Embracing Simplicity, Humility, and Devotion to Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Childlike Faith and Humility

God desires a faith that is simple and humble, like that of a child. This means setting aside intellectual pride and approaching Him with a heart open to His truths. The wisdom of the world often clouds our understanding, but God reveals His truths to those who come to Him with humility and simplicity. This is a call to forsake our reliance on worldly wisdom and embrace the simplicity of the gospel, which is accessible to all, regardless of intellectual prowess. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's desire for a church that pleases Him, not one that seeks to impress the world. [05:15]

Matthew 11:25 (ESV): "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own understanding rather than approaching God with childlike faith? How can you begin to embrace humility in these areas today?

Day 2: Prioritize Undistracted Devotion to Jesus

In the midst of life's demands and church activities, it is crucial to prioritize our devotion to Jesus above all else. Our focus should be on building a relationship with Him that pleases God, rather than seeking to impress the world. This requires a heart fully devoted to Him, even when life gets busy. By maintaining undistracted devotion, we ensure that our lives are aligned with God's will and purpose. This is a call to examine our priorities and make sure that Jesus remains at the center of our lives. [10:21]

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: What distractions in your life are pulling you away from a devoted relationship with Jesus? How can you intentionally refocus your priorities to ensure He remains at the center?

Day 3: Grow in Faith Through Humility

True faith is not about acquiring more knowledge but about deepening our dependence on God. Often, a lack of faith stems from pride, as we rely on our own understanding rather than trusting in God. Humility is the key to increasing our faith and dependence on Him. As we grow in humility, our faith will naturally increase, leading to a deeper righteousness. This is a call to examine our hearts and identify areas where pride may be hindering our faith. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to a greater dependence on God and a stronger faith. [49:33]

James 4:6 (ESV): "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where pride may be hindering your faith. How can you practice humility in this area to deepen your dependence on God?

Day 4: Cultivate Fervent Love for One Another

As a community, we are called to love one another genuinely, without hypocrisy. This love should be sacrificial, serving, and seeking the best for others. As the end of all things draws near, our love should be bubbling, fervent, and ever-increasing, covering a multitude of sins and drawing us closer together. This is a call to examine our relationships and ensure that our love for one another is genuine and sacrificial. By doing so, we reflect the love of Christ and strengthen our community. [57:52]

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV): "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that needs more genuine love. What specific actions can you take today to show sacrificial love to this person?

Day 5: Choose the Path of Simplicity and Devotion

The road ahead for the church is one of simplicity, humility, and undistracted devotion to Jesus. This involves forsaking worldly wisdom and embracing a life that is pleasing to God, characterized by growing faith and fervent love. As a church, we must choose this path and commit to living lives that reflect these values. This is a call to examine our individual and collective lives and ensure that we are aligned with God's desire for His church. By doing so, we become a community that truly pleases God. [36:19]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: As a member of your church community, how can you contribute to fostering an environment of simplicity, humility, and devotion? What specific steps can you take to embody these values in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

The journey ahead for us as a church is one of simplicity, humility, and undistracted devotion to Jesus. We must forsake intellectual pride and embrace the childlike faith that God desires. God hides His truths from the proud and reveals them to those who approach Him with humility and simplicity. This is a call to set aside our worldly wisdom and embrace the simplicity of the gospel, which is accessible to all, regardless of intellectual prowess. Our focus should be on building a church that pleases God, not one that impresses the world. This means prioritizing devotion to Jesus above all else, even in the midst of our busy lives and church activities.

We must also grow in humility and faith, recognizing that true faith is a growing dependence on God. This is not about acquiring more knowledge but about deepening our trust in Him. If we find a lack of faith in our lives, it is often due to pride. Humility is the key to increasing our faith and dependence on God. As we grow in humility, our faith will naturally increase, leading to a deeper righteousness.

Furthermore, we are called to fervent love for one another. This love should be genuine, without hypocrisy, and should manifest in our actions and attitudes towards each other. It is a love that sacrifices, serves, and seeks the best for others. As the end of all things draws near, our love should be bubbling, fervent, and ever-increasing, covering a multitude of sins and drawing us closer together as a community.

Key Takeaways

1. Simplicity and Humility: Embrace a childlike faith, setting aside intellectual pride to receive God's hidden truths. God reveals His wisdom to those who approach Him with humility and simplicity, not to those who rely on their own understanding. [05:15]
2. Undistracted Devotion: Prioritize devotion to Jesus above all else, even amidst church activities and life’s demands. Our focus should be on pleasing God, not impressing the world, and maintaining a heart fully devoted to Him. [10:21]
3. Growing in Faith: True faith is a growing dependence on God, not just acquiring more knowledge. If there is a lack of faith, it often stems from pride. Humility is the key to increasing our faith and dependence on God. [49:33]
4. Fervent Love for One Another: Our love for each other should be genuine, sacrificial, and fervent, covering a multitude of sins. This love should be bubbling and ever-increasing as we draw closer to the return of Christ. [57:52]
5. The Road Ahead: As a church, we must choose the path of simplicity, humility, and undistracted devotion to Jesus. This involves forsaking worldly wisdom and embracing a life that is pleasing to God, characterized by growing faith and fervent love. [36:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Simplicity in Faith
[01:47] - God Hides Himself
[03:49] - Treasure Hunt Analogy
[05:15] - Revelation to the Humble
[07:20] - Building a Church That Pleases God
[09:25] - Undistracted Devotion to Jesus
[11:25] - Devotion in Marriage
[13:25] - 100% Devotion to Jesus
[17:39] - Secure Devotion
[19:54] - The Time is Short
[23:09] - Holy Desperation
[29:39] - Wilderness with Jesus
[35:23] - The Road Ahead for RLCF
[43:28] - Growing in Humility and Faith
[53:23] - Fervent Love for One Another

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 11:25-26
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
1 Peter 4:7-8

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Observation Questions:

In Matthew 11:25-26, why does Jesus praise the Father for hiding things from the wise and intelligent and revealing them to infants? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on simplicity and humility? [05:15]
According to 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, what does Paul say about the concerns of the unmarried versus the married? How does this relate to the sermon’s call for undistracted devotion to Jesus? [10:21]
In 1 Peter 4:7-8, what is the significance of fervent love as the end of all things draws near? How does this align with the sermon’s message about love covering a multitude of sins? [57:52]
The sermon mentions that God hides His truths from the proud. What analogy does the pastor use to illustrate this concept, and how does it help us understand the importance of humility? [03:49]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of God hiding truths from the proud and revealing them to the humble challenge our understanding of wisdom and knowledge in the context of faith? [05:15]
What does it mean to have undistracted devotion to Jesus in the context of modern life, and how can Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7 be applied to both married and unmarried individuals? [10:21]
How can fervent love for one another act as a covering for sins, and why is this important as we anticipate the return of Christ? [57:52]
The sermon suggests that a lack of faith often stems from pride. How can this understanding influence our approach to growing in faith and humility? [49:33]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where intellectual pride might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you embrace a more childlike faith this week? [05:15]
Consider your daily routine: What specific distractions are preventing you from maintaining undistracted devotion to Jesus? How can you address one of these distractions this week? [10:21]
Think about your relationships within the church: How can you demonstrate fervent love to a fellow church member this week, especially someone you may not know well? [57:52]
Identify a situation where you feel a lack of faith. How might pride be contributing to this, and what steps can you take to humble yourself and increase your dependence on God? [49:33]
Reflect on your church involvement: Are there ways in which you are more focused on impressing others rather than pleasing God? How can you shift your focus to prioritize devotion to Jesus? [07:20]
In what ways can you cultivate a heart that is more open to receiving God’s hidden truths? Consider setting aside time for prayer or meditation to seek God with humility. [05:15]
How can you encourage others in your small group to grow in faith and humility? Share one practical way you plan to support a fellow group member in their spiritual journey this week. [49:33]

Sermon Clips

"I think one of the things I love about our church is we try to speak as simply as possible for me that's a struggle I'm honestly a little too educated to be used by the by Lord by God and I have to forsake a lot of that intellectual ability I might have that is useful in the world for our jobs but I have to set that aside whenever I seek to get Revelation from God's word." [00:31:35]

"God's ways are not our ways he hides himself because if he didn't hide himself it would be our knowledge of him based on our own sight our eyes our eyes will have seen him in some physical way and we can take credit for it our minds will have comprehended him understood him in some way that we can take credit for but when God hides himself so that all my ability all my effort all my study of God's word and applying of my intellect and listening to this message and listening to that message and looking up in the concordance and studying this and studying the Greek and the Hebrew and all of that in in my self-promoting way comes to nothing." [00:151:59]

"Jesus said unless you become like a little child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, so pray for me pray for us whenever we speak I tell you brothers and sisters when you pray for us there's one thing you can really pray for us consistently anyone of us who get up and speak teach God's word pray that it'll be simple that it won't be fancy impressive I won't have big words that you'll go away thinking man what an intellectual person or anything like that that I will set aside all that knowledge of English that I have and the desire to be impressive to people and present it simply in a way that the intellectuals will mock what kind of a message is that fit for a six-year-old and I say yes Lord I wanted to be fit for a 5-year-old." [00:388:24]

"May we always be a church that we're not the ones drawing people but God himself is supernaturally where he sees these are my people who trust who have no confidence in themselves no confidence in their ability nothing impressive that they can boast about let me find a miraculous way to bring my people who are hungering for the same life who want a life that's not impressive to the world but is pleasing to Jesus Christ and hasn't he done that I think I look around at your faces and even think of those who aren't here and think how super naturally God brought you here." [00:476:12]

"Don't be distracted from Devotion to Jesus things will fall apart things have already fallen apart if we have been distracted from Devotion to Jesus in the midst of all the things that are going around going on in your workplace or in your home all the Ambitions and goals you have for your children and and your family and all of that don't be distracted from Devotion to Jesus." [00:621:24]

"Christianity is a 100% Devotion to Jesus devoted to Jesus where I honestly have to say to my wife I don't have room in my heart for you because I've given my heart completely to Jesus and out of that I give my wife a heart that's full of Jesus and I come to my wife and I say honey my heart is full of Jesus now you can have it if you want any part of my heart that's outside of Jesus you can't have it and likewise if wives can say to their husbands I've given my heart completely to Jesus not 90% of Jesus 10% to you spouse or 99% of Jesus 1% is that the marriage you are living husbands and wives 99% for Jesus 1% for my wife 1% for for my husband that's not Christianity true Christianity is 100% to Jesus and I give my wife give your husband a 100% GES Jesus own heart that is the only way to have a Godly marriage." [00:934:27]

"Growing in humility and Faith it's very important growing in humility and Faith let me ask you an honest question as I'm asking myself are you more dependent on God today than you were yesterday or since last week this is Faith Faith very simply is dependence on God it's not oh have you have a little bit more knowledge Have you listened to all the daily devotions this last week and you've acquired a little bit more devotion please listen to those those will help you what they will help you what they will help you become more dependent on God are you more dependent on Jesus Christ today than you were last week if not I want to tell you you'll fall away from this church because I believe with all my heart my desire our desire the Lord's desire not my desire I'm just uniting myself with the Lord's desire the Lord's desire is that this church every individual member of that is growing in Faith." [00:2608:88]

"Humility produces Faith plain and simple it's right here if there's a lack of dependence on God in your life if there's a reason is there's some area in which you're not trusting God today very simply it's because you're proud I'm not pointing a finger at you please no I've been judging myself over and over again for the last few weeks Lord why is it that I'm not trusting you in some area and the Lord said very plainly Santos you are still too proud say Lord I want to humble myself really I think I'm humbl but You' shown me the proof is not in whether people think I'm humble you all may think I'm humble I don't know maybe you think I'm proud please tell me if you think I'm proud I want to know it so that I can be saved from it but if you think I'm humbled that matters nothing the proof for me of whether I'm actually humbl or not is whether I have faith in God more today for that thing that's as yet unanswered for that situation that's as yet unsolved." [00:3041:24]

"Fervent love for one another this is the road ahead for us as a church Ro 1 Peter 1 verse 22 since you have an obedience to the truth purified your souls of all this self-seeking and thinking only of what's good for me You've purified it youve God has removed all that attitude of only thinking about yourself since you have profi your souls uh um your souls for what purpose for a sincere love unhy hpoc critical that's the literal word there same thing that Paul says in Romans Peter says here let love be without hypocrisy you have purified your souls for what purpose to have an unhypocritical love for the brothers fervently love one another from the heart that means be zealous like think of ways in which you can love your brother your sister more fervently more full of zeal can I do something else to bless somebody can I share something can I encourage them can I listen to them for hours because it's my love for them that does that." [00:3387:03]

"Love covers a multitude of sins be fervent in your love fervent is bubbling you know what that word means children you can learn a new word today if you didn't know it before you ever put a pot of water to boil and you turn up the heat and the water it takes a little while but the heat is getting more and more and more and more it's getting hotter and hotter and hotter what's the mark that it's really gotten hot it bubbles bubbling love this is the road ahead for us at rlcf as a church bubbling love bubbling love for one another because the time of Christ return has drawn near and Jesus said in Matthew 24 that as the the time of his return drawne the love of many will grow cold brother will betray brother now maybe you won't go out and betray like Judas did and call the authorities to come and arrest that might happen I don't know it could Jesus said he would but are you betraying your brother by how you think about them in your heart are you betraying your sister by how you speak about that sister behind their back are you betraying your brother or sister's children by how you think about them naughty and disobedient as they may be are you betraying your brother in secret are you betraying your sister in secret Jesus said it would happen the way ahead for us at our as a church is bubbling love for one another bubbling love may it be so fervent devotion let's not be distracted from Devotion to the Lord let's not be distracted from Devotion to the Lord." [00:3467:52]

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Embracing Simplicity, Humility, and Devotion to Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Childlike Faith and Humility

Day 2: Prioritize Undistracted Devotion to Jesus

Day 3: Grow in Faith Through Humility

Day 4: Cultivate Fervent Love for One Another

Day 5: Choose the Path of Simplicity and Devotion

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Simplicity, Humility, and Devotion to Jesus

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