Embracing Our Identity and Authority in Christ

 

Summary

In this season of reflection and celebration, we have journeyed through the story of Jesus' birth, drawing lessons from the lives of Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi. Each character in the nativity story offers us a unique perspective on obedience, faithfulness, and transformation. Joseph exemplifies obedience in challenging circumstances, the shepherds demonstrate faithfulness by responding to God's call, and the Magi show us the power of changing our minds and seeking truth. As we celebrated Christmas, we were reminded that Jesus embodies these virtues and calls us to do the same in our lives.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to lose sight of the true essence of Christmas. The story of Jesus' birth is not just a seasonal tale but a lifelong message of hope and transformation. The impact of Jesus' coming to earth is profound and far-reaching, inviting us to shift our focus from the material to the spiritual. By immersing ourselves in the Gospel of John, we are drawn to the profound truth that Jesus is the greatest gift, the ultimate expression of the Father's love.

In John 14:13-14 and John 16:23-24, Jesus invites us to ask in His name, promising that our requests will be fulfilled to glorify the Father. This invitation is not a blank check for our desires but a call to align our prayers with God's will. Jesus, in His divinity, places Himself on equal footing with the Father, affirming His identity as God. As disciples, we are encouraged to approach God with confidence, knowing that we are heirs with Christ, adopted into God's family.

Our identity in Christ grants us the authority to approach God boldly, not as beggars but as beloved children. This authority is rooted in our alignment with God's will, as demonstrated by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. True authority comes from living under God's rule, recognizing that our prayers and actions must reflect His heart and purpose. As a church, we are called to align ourselves with God's will, praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.

As we move forward, let us embrace our identity in Christ, walking in the authority granted to us as His children. Let us pray with purpose, seeking to align our desires with God's will, and trusting that He will work through us to bring glory to His name.

Key Takeaways:

1. Obedience and Faithfulness: Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi each teach us about obedience, faithfulness, and transformation. Their stories remind us that following God's call often requires courage and a willingness to change our perspectives. As we reflect on their examples, we are encouraged to embody these virtues in our own lives. [01:23]

2. The True Essence of Christmas: The Christmas story is not just a seasonal narrative but a lifelong message of hope. Amidst the holiday chaos, we must remember that Jesus' birth is a profound expression of God's love, inviting us to shift our focus from the material to the spiritual. [04:35]

3. Asking in Jesus' Name: Jesus invites us to ask in His name, promising that our requests will be fulfilled to glorify the Father. This is not a license for selfish desires but a call to align our prayers with God's will, recognizing Jesus' divinity and authority. [10:21]

4. Our Identity in Christ: As heirs with Christ, we are granted the authority to approach God boldly. This authority is rooted in our alignment with God's will, as demonstrated by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. True authority comes from living under God's rule. [23:27]

5. Aligning with God's Will: As a church, we are called to align ourselves with God's will, praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done. Our prayers and actions must reflect His heart and purpose, trusting that He will work through us to bring glory to His name. [32:30]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:23] - Lessons from Joseph, Shepherds, and Magi
- [03:02] - Jesus in the Nativity
- [04:35] - The True Essence of Christmas
- [05:59] - Shifting Our Focus
- [06:58] - Insights from the Gospel of John
- [08:00] - Asking in Jesus' Name
- [10:21] - Jesus' Divinity and Authority
- [12:34] - Discipleship and Identity
- [14:58] - Understanding "Ask" in Greek
- [16:34] - Permission to Approach God
- [19:51] - Heirs with Christ
- [23:27] - Walking in Authority
- [25:46] - Aligning Prayers with God's Will
- [32:30] - Church's Call to Alignment
- [35:15] - Bringing Glory to the Father

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 14:13-14 (ESV): "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."
- John 16:23-24 (ESV): "Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."
- Romans 8:17 (ESV): "And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Observation Questions:
1. How does Joseph's example in the nativity story illustrate obedience in challenging circumstances? [01:23]
2. What actions did the shepherds take that demonstrated their faithfulness in response to God's call? [01:48]
3. In what ways did the Magi show the power of changing their minds and seeking truth? [03:02]
4. According to John 14:13-14, what is the purpose of asking in Jesus' name?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of asking in Jesus' name challenge or affirm one's understanding of prayer and its purpose? [10:21]
2. What does it mean to align one's prayers with God's will, and how does this alignment affect the authority we have in Christ? [25:46]
3. How does the identity of being heirs with Christ influence a believer's approach to God in prayer? [19:51]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that living under God's rule impacts our daily actions and decisions? [29:03]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt challenged to obey God. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Joseph's example? [01:23]
2. Consider a time when you felt called to act faithfully like the shepherds. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future? [01:48]
3. Identify an area in your life where you need to change your perspective or seek truth, similar to the Magi. What steps can you take to pursue this change? [03:02]
4. How can you ensure that your prayers are aligned with God's will, and what practical steps can you take to deepen this alignment? [25:46]
5. In what ways can you embrace your identity as an heir with Christ to approach God with confidence in your prayers? [19:51]
6. Think about a specific prayer request you have. How can you reframe it to focus on glorifying the Father, as mentioned in John 14:13-14?
7. What is one practical way you can shift your focus from the material to the spiritual during this season, as encouraged by the sermon? [04:35]

Devotional

Day 1: Courageous Obedience in Uncertain Times
In the nativity story, Joseph, the shepherds, and the Magi each demonstrate a unique aspect of obedience and faithfulness. Joseph's willingness to follow God's direction, even when it meant facing societal judgment, exemplifies obedience in challenging circumstances. The shepherds, upon hearing the angelic announcement, immediately responded to God's call, showing their faithfulness. The Magi, guided by a star, embarked on a journey to seek the truth, illustrating the power of transformation through changing one's perspective. These stories remind us that following God's call often requires courage and a willingness to change our perspectives. As we reflect on their examples, we are encouraged to embody these virtues in our own lives. [01:23]

Isaiah 1:19-20 (ESV): "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you feel God is calling you to act courageously. What steps can you take today to respond with obedience and faithfulness?


Day 2: Rediscovering the Spiritual Essence of Christmas
The Christmas story is more than a seasonal narrative; it is a lifelong message of hope and transformation. Amidst the holiday chaos, it is easy to lose sight of the true essence of Christmas. Jesus' birth is a profound expression of God's love, inviting us to shift our focus from the material to the spiritual. This season calls us to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas, recognizing that Jesus is the greatest gift and the ultimate expression of the Father's love. By immersing ourselves in this truth, we are invited to experience a transformation that goes beyond the holiday season. [04:35]

Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from the material to the spiritual this Christmas season? How can you make this shift a part of your daily life beyond the holidays?


Day 3: Aligning Our Prayers with God's Will
Jesus invites us to ask in His name, promising that our requests will be fulfilled to glorify the Father. This invitation is not a license for selfish desires but a call to align our prayers with God's will. Recognizing Jesus' divinity and authority, we are encouraged to approach God with confidence, knowing that our prayers should reflect His heart and purpose. As we align our desires with God's will, we trust that He will work through us to bring glory to His name. This alignment requires a deep understanding of God's character and a willingness to submit our desires to His greater plan. [10:21]

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV): "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

Reflection: What is one specific prayer request you have today? How can you ensure that this request aligns with God's will and purpose?


Day 4: Embracing Our Identity and Authority in Christ
As heirs with Christ, we are granted the authority to approach God boldly. This authority is rooted in our alignment with God's will, as demonstrated by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. True authority comes from living under God's rule, recognizing that our prayers and actions must reflect His heart and purpose. Our identity in Christ grants us the confidence to approach God not as beggars but as beloved children. This understanding transforms our relationship with God, empowering us to live out our faith with boldness and purpose. [23:27]

Ephesians 3:12 (ESV): "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him."

Reflection: How does understanding your identity in Christ change the way you approach God in prayer? What steps can you take to live more boldly in this identity today?


Day 5: Praying for God's Kingdom and Will
As a church, we are called to align ourselves with God's will, praying for His kingdom to come and His will to be done. Our prayers and actions must reflect His heart and purpose, trusting that He will work through us to bring glory to His name. This alignment requires a collective commitment to seek God's guidance and to act in ways that further His kingdom on earth. By praying with purpose and intention, we become active participants in God's redemptive work, allowing His will to be manifested in our lives and communities. [32:30]

Matthew 6:10 (ESV): "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can contribute to God's kingdom work in your community this week? How can your prayers and actions align with this purpose?

Quotes

"We looked at how Joseph gives us a great example of obedience. We looked at how Joseph There were three points I made. Obeying God in difficult times. Obeying God in distant places. Obeying God in daily life. We looked at the shepherds and the example of their faithfulness. When God calls, listen up. When God calls, saddle up. When God calls, speak up." [00:01:16] (40 seconds)


"I hope amongst all the busyness of the Christmas season in your homes that you took time to remember the real reason we have Christmas. Jesus. This period of time is so cluttered with the traditions of turkeys, crackers. This wasn't the time for you to interact if I'm honest but hey it's okay. You see we're covered in all of that stuff that we can lose or even misplace Jesus amongst all of it." [00:03:32] (60 seconds)


"The first thing is that in that first passage Jesus says ask me and I will do. In the second passage Jesus says ask the Father and he will do. Jesus puts himself on the same level as the Father. There are religions out there that say that Jesus was not God. They will even bend it a little bit. They will allow him to be the son of created by God. But they won't allow him to be God." [00:10:39] (42 seconds)


"Jesus tells us in these passages no, you belong in the kingdom of heaven. You belong at the throne room of Jesus, of God almighty. You have permission to go to him and ask. Doesn't that just make something happen in you? You're not somebody that has to sneak around. That looks for the crumbs that drop off his table. As a follower of Jesus as a disciple of Jesus, you dare I say it and hear this right, you have a right to be there." [00:18:18] (69 seconds)


"Paul says now if we are children then we are heirs. Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. The GotQuestions website explains the term heirs of God emphasizes our relationship to God the Father. As his children we have an inheritance that can never perish, can never spoil can never fade and it's kept in heaven." [00:20:42] (64 seconds)


"Jesus taught us to pray in the spirit that he prays. In the way that he prays. Your will be done. Why did he do that? Because that's how you live in authority. Under authority. You see, authority is not about ruling people. It's about recognizing that everybody, everything is under the rule of Jesus. And when you recognize that and know that you too are under the rule of Jesus you can walk in that authority." [00:28:51] (43 seconds)


"If we want to see the spectacular I think Emma prayed it earlier. If we want to see the signs, miracles and wonders happen in this church, which I truly believe God wants to do here. Then church we need to get into alignment with God. With his will. We need to pray the things that are on his heart. Emma prayed that this place would be filled with young and old coming to know Jesus." [00:32:06] (39 seconds)


"Then we can walk, live, talk, speak, pray in authority. I believe that this church is to be filled with people. I believe that in this coming year, God is calling us to more than one service. Seriously, because we've got to fill it. Because there is a lost, dying generation out there that needs to hear the good news of Jesus. But that will only happen if we pray it into being in this place." [00:33:19] (39 seconds)


"If we are not aligned with God's will for our lives, for our marriages, for our families, for our neighborhoods, for our communities for our workplaces if we are not in alignment with god's will then we will never walk in the authority that we can walk in and those things that jesus said ask anything in my name and it will be done will not happen in your lives in our lives until we walk in alignment and authority." [00:43:21] (42 seconds)


"Church is so important that I can encourage you to grab hold of the truth to hold of God's will for your life that I can encourage you and stir you to get in alignment with God's will so that you can walk truly in the authority of your identity that you can walk in the authority of your identity and you can walk boldly that he has given you permission to enter into the throne room of heaven." [00:45:22] (41 seconds)


"In the spirit in which I would ask it. In the way that I would seek after the will of the Father. Ask anything in that way and it will be given to you. Daughters of the living God. And you have been given permission to be in walk in the authority that comes from being under his authority. If you're aligned with those are just some of the things that God's been speaking to me about over these last few days as I've been reading the book of John." [00:49:32] (78 seconds)


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Transcript
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