Embracing Our Identity as God's Chosen Children

Devotional

Day 1: Chosen for Lasting Impact

Understanding our identity as chosen by Jesus is foundational to bearing fruit that remains. This choice assures us of our purpose and place in God's kingdom. We are not merely workers but beloved children of God, called to produce fruit that is meaningful and enduring. This identity as chosen ones is not based on our merit but on Jesus' love and purpose for us. As we embrace this truth, we find confidence in our role within God's kingdom, knowing that our efforts are not in vain but are part of a greater, lasting impact. [02:21]

John 15:16 (ESV): "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace your identity as chosen by Jesus to impact those around you today?

Day 2: Secure in Sonship

The distinction between a slave and a son is crucial. While a slave's relationship is conditional and temporary, a son's relationship is permanent and secure. This assurance allows us to face trials with confidence, knowing our identity is unshakeable. As sons and daughters of God, we are invited into a relationship that is not based on performance but on love and acceptance. This security in our identity empowers us to live boldly, knowing that our place in God's family is eternal and unchanging. [03:35]

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV): "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Reflection: How does knowing you are a permanent member of God's family change the way you approach challenges today?

Day 3: Confidence in the New Covenant

The new covenant calls us to a deeper relationship with God, where our identity as His children is the source of our confidence and boasting. This confidence is not based on our performance but on our identity as God's children. Under the new covenant, we are invited to abide in Jesus, the true vine, and draw our strength and purpose from Him. This relationship is not transactional but transformative, as we are called to live out our identity with boldness and assurance, knowing that our confidence is rooted in God's unchanging love. [06:20]

Hebrews 8:10 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to shift from performance-based confidence to identity-based confidence?

Day 4: God's Choice Precedes Transformation

Zechariah 3 illustrates God's love and choice, showing that despite our imperfections, God affirms our identity as His chosen ones. This demonstrates that God's choice and love for us precede our cleansing and transformation. Just as Joshua the high priest was chosen despite his filthy garments, we too are chosen by God, not because of our righteousness but because of His grace. This truth invites us to rest in God's love, knowing that our transformation is a result of His choice and not a prerequisite for it. [13:35]

Zechariah 3:3-4 (ESV): "Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Remove the filthy garments from him.' And to him he said, 'Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.'"

Reflection: How can you embrace God's choice and love for you today, even in areas where you feel unworthy?

Day 5: The Power of Intercession

Intercession is a powerful ministry where we seek not just forgiveness but abundant blessings for others. This reflects the heart of Jesus, who intercedes for us, asking the Father to pour out blessings and anointing upon us. As we engage in intercession, we align ourselves with God's heart for others, seeking their well-being and spiritual growth. This ministry of intercession is a call to stand in the gap for others, believing that our prayers can bring about transformation and blessing in their lives. [16:24]

1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV): "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can intercede for today, asking God not only for their forgiveness but for abundant blessings?

Sermon Summary

In John 15, Jesus emphasizes the importance of bearing fruit that remains. This concept is not just about producing any fruit, but ensuring that the fruit we bear is lasting and meaningful. There are three categories of trees: those that do not bear fruit, those that bear fruit that does not remain, and those that bear fruit that remains. The key to bearing lasting fruit lies in understanding that Jesus chose us, not the other way around. This choice by Jesus is foundational to our identity and purpose. We are not merely employees in God's kingdom, but sons and daughters. This distinction is crucial because while an employee's relationship with their employer can change, a child's relationship with their parent is permanent.

The mentality of a son or daughter is one of abiding in Jesus, as He is the vine and we are the branches. This relationship is not transactional, as seen in the old covenant, where blessings were expected in return for obedience. Instead, under the new covenant, we are called to a deeper relationship with God, where our identity as His children is the source of our confidence and boasting. This confidence is not based on our performance but on our identity as God's children.

In Hebrews 3, the contrast between Moses and Jesus highlights the difference between a servant and a son. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Jesus was faithful as a son. This sonship is our calling, and it is marked by confidence and boasting in our identity as God's children. This confidence should endure through trials and failures, as it is rooted in the unchanging nature of our relationship with God.

Zechariah 3 provides a powerful illustration of God's love and choice. Despite Joshua the high priest being clothed in filthy garments, God rebukes Satan and affirms Joshua's identity as His chosen one. This demonstrates that God's choice and love for us precede our cleansing and transformation. Our role is to hold fast to this identity and to intercede for others, seeking not just forgiveness but abundant blessings for them.

Key Takeaways

1. Bearing fruit that remains is about understanding our identity as chosen by Jesus. This choice is foundational and assures us of our purpose and place in God's kingdom. We are not just workers but beloved children of God. [02:21]
2. The distinction between a slave and a son is crucial. While a slave's relationship is conditional and temporary, a son's relationship is permanent and secure. This assurance allows us to face trials with confidence, knowing our identity is unshakeable. [03:35]
3. The new covenant calls us to a deeper relationship with God, where our identity as His children is the source of our confidence and boasting. This confidence is not based on our performance but on our identity as God's children. [06:20]
4. Zechariah 3 illustrates God's love and choice, showing that despite our imperfections, God affirms our identity as His chosen ones. This demonstrates that God's choice and love for us precede our cleansing and transformation. [13:35]
5. Intercession is a powerful ministry where we seek not just forgiveness but abundant blessings for others. This reflects the heart of Jesus, who intercedes for us, asking the Father to pour out blessings and anointing upon us. [16:24]
** [16:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - The Importance of Lasting Fruit
[00:50] - Categories of Trees
[01:37] - Jesus' Choice and Our Identity
[02:34] - Abiding in Jesus
[03:10] - The Assurance of Sonship
[04:04] - The Mentality of a Son
[05:08] - Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
[06:30] - The Father's Abundance
[07:52] - Faithfulness of Moses and Jesus
[08:33] - Confidence and Boasting
[09:54] - Zechariah 3: God's Choice
[11:18] - Satan's Accusation and God's Response
[12:55] - The Cleansing and Choosing
[14:20] - Intercession and Blessing
[16:24] - Jesus' Intercession for Us

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 15:16 - "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."
Hebrews 3:5-6 - "Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory."
Zechariah 3:1-4 - "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?' Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.'"

Observation Questions:

According to John 15:16, what is the significance of Jesus choosing us, and how does this relate to bearing fruit that remains? [01:52]
In Hebrews 3:5-6, how is the faithfulness of Moses as a servant contrasted with the faithfulness of Christ as a Son? [08:07]
What does Zechariah 3:1-4 reveal about God's response to Satan's accusations against Joshua, and how does this illustrate God's choice and love for us? [12:28]

Interpretation Questions:

How does understanding that Jesus chose us, as stated in John 15:16, impact our identity and purpose as believers? [02:21]
What does the distinction between a servant and a son in Hebrews 3:5-6 teach us about our relationship with God under the new covenant? [08:22]
In Zechariah 3, how does God's rebuke of Satan before cleansing Joshua illustrate the precedence of God's choice and love over our transformation? [13:17]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt like an employee in God's kingdom rather than a child. How can you shift your mindset to embrace your identity as a son or daughter of God? [03:35]
How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God, where your confidence is rooted in your identity as His child rather than your performance? [06:20]
In what ways can you intercede for others, seeking not just forgiveness but abundant blessings for them, as demonstrated in Zechariah 3? [16:24]
Consider a situation where you faced trials or failures. How can the assurance of your unshakeable identity in Christ help you endure with confidence? [09:02]
Identify someone in your life who may feel accused or unworthy. How can you affirm their identity in Christ and encourage them with God's love and choice? [13:35]
How can you actively abide in Jesus, the true vine, to ensure that the fruit you bear in your life is lasting and meaningful? [04:04]
Reflect on the concept of boasting in your identity as God's child. How can this perspective change the way you approach challenges and opportunities in your daily life? [09:27]

Sermon Clips

"Jesus said that his desire for us was that we would bear fruit that would remain we heard that also this morning fruit that would remain and it's very important what we heard today is very important that Foundation and what we build with because there's going to be a fruit that won't remain." [00:09:55]

"I love that he says this you did not choose me but I chose you it's like we heard today and the secret to bearing fruit that remains is recognizing Jesus chose me you didn't choose me Jesus says I chose you Peter couldn't boast about the fact that he was a disciple of Jesus compared to somebody else." [00:09:36]

"How will I know that I am going to bear fruit in God's house forever is if I'm a son, a slave an employee could be here today gone tomorrow I'm employed by a company but there's no guarantee that I will always be an employee of the company that I'm a part of, but you know what is a guarantee is I will always be the son of my father." [00:03:08]

"Under the old Covenant you are an employee, and you had every right to say well Lord I gave you my ten percent you better fulfill your end of the bargain you better make sure I don't have those diseases make sure that my Fields bear fruit and all these blessings that you promised I can go back and quote it exactly from Leviticus and Deuteronomy." [00:05:25]

"Under the New Covenant we have something better, we're Sons, if you're a partner with your father in the business there's no question of payroll, there's no question of when's my paycheck you're the son of your father you have the father like the Father the end of Luke 15 told his son you have me told to the older son you've had me." [00:06:21]

"Your confidence and your boast when you think of enduring until the end what do you think of like I better make it I better make it yeah I'm losing energy I'm barely crawling in my Christian Life I better make sure I make it is that what you think of or do you think of confidence and boast." [00:08:36]

"God wants me at the end of my life no matter what the trial has been like that I'm still boasting I still have confidence my head is held up high I'm not looking at the trial I'm not looking at my failure I'm not looking with the regret of how much I could have done so much else differently." [00:09:02]

"Let there be a boast and a confidence and if you don't hold that boasting and confidence until the end, then you may not make it, so endure with confidence and with both but in Zechariah 3 you know there's only three times in the Old Testament that Satan is referenced by name only three times." [00:10:23]

"Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, full of sin this isn't the Joel have you seen Joe this is Joshua the filthy garment Joshua clothed with filthy garments and standing before the Lord and Satan says see this is your servant full of sin and look at what the Lord says to Satan." [00:11:21]

"Before he cleans up Joshua he says verse 2 the Lord said to Satan the Lord rebuked you yeah my son is filthy but he's my son yeah my daughter is filthy but that's my daughter so get away from him that's what I would say if somebody comes to me and says look at your filthy son your filthy die." [00:12:55]

"Long before God cleaned you up he chose you the cleaning happened on Calvary but the choosing happened long before that while I was still a filthy sinner while we were yet sinners Christ died for us and chose us and if you don't hold fast this confession that God has chosen you God loves you." [00:13:35]

"When we come back to Jesus, what is he doing at the right hand of the father he's interceding when the father says Jesus shall I forgive Santosh Jesus says don't just forgive him Lord pour a blessing on top of him fill him with the Holy Spirit give him a double anointing this is our father this is our older brother amen." [00:16:24]

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