Embracing Our New Covenant Relationship with God

Devotional

Day 1: Intimacy with God as Our Father

The new covenant established through Jesus Christ transforms our relationship with God from one of formality to one of intimacy. Under this new covenant, we are invited to call God "Abba," or "Dad," reflecting a deep trust and closeness. This relationship is not about adhering to a set of rules but about approaching God with the simplicity and sincerity of a child. It is a privilege to be called children of God, a status that was not available under the old covenant. This intimacy allows us to experience God's love and guidance in a personal and profound way. [02:18]

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: In what ways can you approach God with the simplicity and sincerity of a child today? How might this change your prayer life or your daily interactions with Him?

Day 2: Craving Spiritual Nourishment

As children of God, we must have a genuine desire for spiritual nourishment, much like a newborn craves milk. This nourishment comes from the Word of God, which is essential for our spiritual growth and salvation. Without this desire, our spiritual life is at risk, similar to a newborn who refuses to eat. The Word of God should not be treated as mere information or a tool for showing off knowledge, but as essential sustenance that leads to growth and transformation. It is through this spiritual food that we grow in our faith and understanding of God's will for our lives. [06:03]

1 Peter 2:2-3 (ESV): "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to cultivate a deeper hunger for God's Word? How can you ensure that you are not just reading the Bible for information but for transformation?

Day 3: Living in Holy Fear

Living in holy fear means recognizing that God is an impartial judge and living a life of obedience and holiness. As children of God, we are called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and to daily surrender our will to God. This involves a commitment to holiness and a rejection of sin, understanding that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are all priests, called to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God. This daily commitment to holiness is a reflection of our reverence and respect for God's authority and righteousness. [19:23]

1 Peter 1:15-17 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender more fully to God's will? How can you practice living in holy fear in your daily actions and decisions?

Day 4: Engaging in Daily Spiritual Warfare

We are called to engage in daily spiritual warfare, using the Word of God as our sword to defeat the giants of sin in our lives. This is not about achieving a permanent victory but about daily faithfulness and reliance on God's strength. Whether it's overcoming the love of money, lust, or any other sin, we have the power through Christ to defeat these giants daily. The focus is on daily faithfulness and reliance on God's strength, recognizing that each day presents new challenges and opportunities for spiritual growth. [30:27]

Ephesians 6:11-13 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection: What is one "giant" of sin you are facing today? How can you use the Word of God to combat this challenge and rely on His strength for victory?

Day 5: The Urgency of Today

Today is the day to act, as we are not promised tomorrow. The choices we make today can lead to significant spiritual victories, and we must seize the opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and overcome sin. This urgency calls us to be proactive in our spiritual journey, recognizing that each day is a gift and an opportunity to draw closer to God. By focusing on the present, we can make intentional choices that align with God's will and lead to lasting transformation. [28:04]

Hebrews 3:13-14 (ESV): "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

Reflection: What is one spiritual goal you can set for yourself today? How can you take immediate action to pursue this goal and grow in your relationship with God?

Sermon Summary

The new covenant life is a profound transformation in our relationship with God, moving from the old covenant given to Moses to a new agreement established through Jesus Christ. This new covenant is not just a set of rules but a relationship where we are made children of God, a privilege that was not available under the old covenant. Jesus, as the Son of God, came to reveal God as our Father, inviting us to approach Him with the intimacy of a child calling out to their dad. This relationship is not about formality but about genuine intimacy and connection with God.

Being children of God means we must have a deep desire for spiritual nourishment, akin to a newborn's need for milk. This spiritual food is the Word of God, which is essential for our growth in salvation. Without this desire, our spiritual life is at risk, much like a newborn who refuses to eat. We must not treat God's Word as mere information or a tool for showing off our knowledge, but as essential sustenance that leads to growth and transformation.

Furthermore, as children of God, we are called to live in holy fear, recognizing that God is an impartial judge. This means living a life of obedience, offering our bodies as living sacrifices, and daily surrendering our will to God. We are all priests, called to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God. This involves a daily commitment to holiness and a rejection of sin, understanding that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Today is the day to act. We are not promised tomorrow, and the choices we make today can lead to significant spiritual victories. Whether it's overcoming the love of money, lust, or any other sin, we have the power through Christ to defeat these giants daily. The focus is not on achieving a once-and-for-all victory but on daily faithfulness and reliance on God's strength.

Key Takeaways

1. Intimacy with God as Our Father: The new covenant invites us into a relationship with God where we can call Him "Abba," or "Dad," reflecting a deep intimacy and trust. This relationship is not about formality but about approaching God with the simplicity and sincerity of a child. [02:18]
2. Desire for Spiritual Nourishment: Just as a newborn craves milk, we must have a genuine desire for the Word of God, which is essential for our spiritual growth. Without this desire, our spiritual life is at risk, and we must question the authenticity of our faith. [06:03]
3. Living in Holy Fear: As children of God, we are called to live in holy fear, recognizing that God is an impartial judge. This involves a commitment to holiness and a daily surrender of our will to God, offering our bodies as living sacrifices. [19:23]
4. Daily Spiritual Warfare: We must engage in daily spiritual warfare, using the Word of God as our sword to defeat the giants of sin in our lives. This is not about achieving a permanent victory but about daily faithfulness and reliance on God's strength. [30:27]
5. The Urgency of Today: Today is the day to act, as we are not promised tomorrow. The choices we make today can lead to significant spiritual victories, and we must seize the opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and overcome sin. [28:04]
** [28:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the New Covenant
[01:01] - Becoming Children of God
[02:18] - Intimacy with God as Father
[03:38] - Privilege of Calling God "Dad"
[05:20] - Desire for Spiritual Milk
[06:38] - Importance of Spiritual Nourishment
[08:36] - Growth in Salvation
[10:23] - Salvation from Sin
[11:28] - Reading God's Word as Food
[13:43] - Treating God's Word as Gum
[17:05] - Nutritional Value of God's Word
[19:23] - Living in Holy Fear
[22:16] - Priesthood of Believers
[28:04] - The Urgency of Today

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The New Covenant Life

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 2:1-3
2 Corinthians 1:20
Matthew 1:21

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Observation Questions:

What does 1 Peter 2:1-3 suggest about the importance of spiritual nourishment for believers? How is this related to the analogy of a newborn craving milk? [05:20]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of calling God "Abba" or "Dad"? How does this reflect our relationship with God under the new covenant? [02:18]
How does the sermon describe the role of believers as priests in the new covenant? What are the spiritual sacrifices we are called to offer? [22:16]
What does the sermon say about the urgency of acting today in our spiritual lives? Why is today emphasized over tomorrow? [28:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the new covenant change our understanding of God as a Father compared to the old covenant? How does this impact our daily relationship with Him? [02:18]
How does the analogy of spiritual milk in 1 Peter 2:1-3 challenge believers to assess their spiritual health and growth? What might be some signs of spiritual malnourishment? [06:03]
What does it mean to live in "holy fear" as described in 1 Peter 1:17? How does this concept influence our daily decisions and actions as believers? [19:23]
How does the sermon suggest believers should engage in daily spiritual warfare? What role does the Word of God play in this battle? [30:27]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current relationship with God. Do you approach Him with the intimacy of a child calling out to their dad? If not, what steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [02:18]
Consider your desire for spiritual nourishment. Do you genuinely crave the Word of God like a newborn craves milk? If not, what changes can you make to cultivate this desire? [06:03]
In what areas of your life do you need to live with more "holy fear"? How can you remind yourself of God's impartial judgment in your daily actions? [19:23]
Identify a "giant" of sin in your life that you need to confront today. What practical steps can you take to rely on God's strength to overcome it? [28:04]
How can you incorporate the practice of offering your body as a living sacrifice in your daily routine? What specific actions can you take to ensure your life is a spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God? [23:14]
Reflect on a recent decision or action. Did you consider the urgency of today in making that choice? How can you apply this urgency to future decisions? [28:04]
Think of a time when you treated God's Word as mere information rather than essential sustenance. How can you change your approach to Scripture to ensure it nourishes your spiritual life? [08:36]

Sermon Clips

One of the things that God does as part of the new agreement is God made us children of God. He made us sons and daughters of God. That was not something that even the Israelites in the old agreement could have. They were not children of God, children of Abraham, and God tried to treat them as a father treats a child, but that relationship was not secure. [00:01:15]

Jesus came as the Son of God, and as he died and when he rose again, he cleaned the very bottom of our hearts so that the Holy Spirit could dwell in us so that we too could receive the opportunity and the privilege to be called children of God. So tremendous privilege for us to have God as a father. [00:01:38]

We memorize love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. That is a response to this love that God pours out into us, which says let me reset the relationship between you and me as a father to a very small child, that you can come to me just as a small two-year-old severe one comes to God. [00:03:08]

If we are born again, we must have a basic desire for spiritual food. We must have that in us. It is as essential as a doctor looks at a newborn baby and sees whether that baby has a desire to be fed, and that analogy has to really sink in deeply within us as we examine ourselves. [00:05:41]

Jesus said man does not live by food alone because man is not just a physical body. Animals live that way, but man is also a spiritual being. So man does not live by bread alone but by the Word of God that proceeds from his mouth. So if we have not, we are not interacting with God's Word as babies interact with food. [00:06:23]

We must seriously and genuinely question whether there's any spiritual life in us. We can claim we're born again, we do all kinds of things, we give our bodies to be burnt, we give all our possessions to the poor—meaningless if we don't have a genuine desire for spiritual milk, which is the Word of God. [00:06:59]

There's a difference between reading Scripture and taking God's Word as heat. It's a difference. There's a difference between knowing or isn't Scripture when all the Bible story is the memorizing Scripture and eating, taking God's Word as our food. There's a much bigger necessity from it because what does the baby do with the food? [00:08:02]

We too have to take in God's Word so that we grow in the strength of our salvation, which means salvation is to be saved. We grow in being saved from our sins. The giants in the land are being knocked off, are not just continuing to exist now, all the giants, but maybe the next giant is starting to get knocked off. [00:09:13]

We must encourage one another daily, otherwise, we can fall because of the deceitfulness of sin. Sin is not explosive like a big bomb; it's deceitful, so it makes you think everything is okay. It doesn't tell you on the inside of your spiritual organs are packing up, the kidneys, our faith are failing now because it was not working. [00:12:48]

If you say you're a child of God, if you say that God is your father, if you say the Lord's Prayer and say our Father warden, I mean if you say that, remember that this father impartially judges according to each one's work. He's not going to be partial in any way just because you were nice to other people. [00:19:28]

We are all priests, and it is our duty to daily offer sacrifices to God, not just any old sacrifices, but it says offer up spiritual sacrifices to God that are acceptable to God. And you know when you think about that word spiritual sacrifice and acceptable to God, there's that other verse that we mean on Romans. [00:22:49]

Today is when all we need today. It's not tomorrow, not Lord Jesus, I'll give up my pornography tomorrow. Lord Jesus, I'll give up my love of money tomorrow. Just give me five more years until my bank account is fully retired, and then I'll give up my love of money. Until then, Lord Jesus, I can't eat a lot. [00:27:01]

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Embracing Our New Covenant Relationship with God

Devotional

Day 1: Intimacy with God as Our Father

Day 2: Craving Spiritual Nourishment

Day 3: Living in Holy Fear

Day 4: Engaging in Daily Spiritual Warfare

Day 5: The Urgency of Today

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Our New Covenant Relationship with God

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