Our spiritual work and ministry should prioritize quality, deeply rooted in our relationship with God. In contexts with vast needs, like India, there is a temptation to compromise on the quality of our spiritual work in favor of quantity. However, just as a poor diet affects physical health over time, sacrificing quality for quantity can lead to long-term spiritual deficiencies. By focusing on quality, we ensure that our ministry is sustainable and truly impactful, reflecting the depth of our relationship with God. [06:22]
"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your ministry or spiritual life have you been prioritizing quantity over quality? How can you refocus your efforts to deepen your relationship with God and enhance the quality of your work?
Day 2: Sanctification as God's Work
Sanctification is a transformative process that is initiated and completed by God within us. It is not something we can achieve through our own efforts but requires our submission to God's will. Moving from a law-based approach to one of grace, we allow God to work within us, transforming us from the inside out. This transformation is a journey of grace, where we learn to rely on God's power rather than our own strength. [09:19]
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself striving to achieve sanctification through your own efforts? How can you submit this area to God and allow His grace to transform you?
Day 3: True Worship in Spirit and Truth
True worship is not about external expressions but about entering into a deep, intimate relationship with God. As Jesus taught, worshiping in spirit and truth transcends physical acts and focuses on a heart posture that seeks God above all else. This kind of worship leads to a life of spiritual richness and fulfillment, where our relationship with God becomes the center of our existence. By becoming true worshippers, we experience a profound connection with God that goes beyond mere service. [16:43]
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." (John 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current worship practices. Are they more focused on external expressions or on cultivating a deep, intimate relationship with God? What changes can you make to worship God in spirit and truth?
Day 4: Maintaining a Pure Spirit
Maintaining a pure spirit involves cleansing ourselves from both outward sins and inward defilements, such as wrong motives and attitudes. This purity allows us to see God more clearly in our lives and circumstances, leading to a life of discernment and spiritual sensitivity. By keeping our spirit pure, we open ourselves to God's guidance and wisdom, enabling us to navigate life's complexities with clarity and purpose. [29:00]
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: What inward defilements, such as wrong motives or attitudes, are clouding your spiritual vision? How can you begin the process of cleansing your spirit to see God more clearly in your life?
Day 5: Discernment Through the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding us to discern what is of God and what is not. This discernment is essential for making decisions that align with God's will, protecting us from spiritual dangers and leading us on the right path. By cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we develop the ability to navigate the complexities of life and ministry with wisdom and insight, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect God's purpose for us. [46:27]
"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with discernment? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in making decisions that align with God's will?
Sermon Summary
In our time together, I shared my reflections on the importance of spiritual integrity and the pursuit of sanctification. I emphasized that our work and ministry should be deeply rooted in our relationship with God, prioritizing quality over quantity. This is especially crucial in contexts like India, where the vast needs can tempt us to compromise on the quality of our spiritual work. I drew from 1 Thessalonians 5:23, highlighting that sanctification is God's work in us, not something we can achieve through our own efforts. Our role is to submit and allow God to work within us, transforming us from the inside out.
I also discussed the significance of worshiping God in spirit and truth, as Jesus taught in John 4:24. True worship transcends physical acts and enters into a deep, intimate relationship with God. This kind of worship is not about external expressions but about a heart posture that seeks God above all else. I encouraged everyone to become worshippers, as this leads to a life of spiritual richness and fulfillment.
Furthermore, I spoke about the need to maintain a pure spirit, as outlined in 2 Corinthians 7:1. This involves cleansing ourselves from both outward sins and inward defilements, such as wrong motives and attitudes. Keeping our spirit pure allows us to see God more clearly in our lives and circumstances, leading to a life of discernment and spiritual sensitivity.
Finally, I touched on the importance of discernment in our spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit guides us, teaching us to discern what is of God and what is not. This discernment is crucial in navigating the complexities of life and ministry, helping us to make decisions that align with God's will.
Key Takeaways
1. Quality Over Quantity in Ministry: Our work should prioritize quality, rooted in a deep relationship with God. Sacrificing quality for quantity can lead to long-term spiritual deficiencies, much like a poor diet affects physical health over time. [06:22]
2. Sanctification as God's Work: Sanctification is not achieved by our efforts but is a work of God in us. Our role is to submit and allow God to transform us, moving from a law-based approach to one of grace. [09:19]
3. True Worship in Spirit and Truth: Worship should be a deep, intimate relationship with God, not just external expressions. This kind of worship leads to a life of spiritual richness and fulfillment, transcending mere service. [16:43]
4. Maintaining a Pure Spirit: Keeping our spirit pure involves cleansing ourselves from both outward sins and inward defilements. This purity allows us to see God clearly in our lives and circumstances, leading to a life of discernment. [29:00]
5. Discernment Through the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit guides us in discerning what is of God. This discernment is crucial for making decisions that align with God's will, protecting us from spiritual dangers. [46:27] ** [46:27]
According to 1 Thessalonians 5:23, who is responsible for our sanctification, and what does this imply about our role in the process? [09:01]
In John 4:24, Jesus speaks about worshiping in spirit and truth. What does this mean in the context of the sermon, and how does it differ from Old Testament worship? [17:21]
What are the two types of defilement mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:1, and how do they affect our spiritual life? [29:00]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between quality and quantity in ministry, and what analogy is used to illustrate this point? [06:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the concept of sanctification as God's work challenge common perceptions of personal spiritual growth and effort? [09:19]
What does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth, and how can this form of worship lead to a deeper relationship with God? [16:43]
Why is maintaining a pure spirit crucial for discernment, and how does this purity affect our ability to see God in our lives? [29:00]
How does the Holy Spirit aid in discernment, and why is this discernment essential for aligning our decisions with God's will? [46:27]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your current ministry or work. Are there areas where you might be sacrificing quality for quantity? How can you refocus on quality in your spiritual work? [06:22]
Consider your personal worship practices. How can you move beyond external expressions to cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God? [16:43]
Identify any inward defilements, such as wrong motives or attitudes, that you need to cleanse. What steps can you take this week to purify your spirit? [29:00]
Think about a recent decision you made. How did you discern whether it aligned with God's will? What role did the Holy Spirit play in guiding you? [46:27]
How can you become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? What practices can help you develop this sensitivity? [50:35]
Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How might focusing on worshiping in spirit and truth help you draw closer to Him? [19:43]
Consider the people you interact with regularly. How can you demonstrate spiritual integrity and purity in these relationships? [29:50]
Sermon Clips
Our work is dependent on our relationship with God. The closer our relationship with him, the better our work is going to be. God is more interested in the quality of our work than its quantity. It's very important for us to bear in mind at all times. [00:05:12]
Sanctification is God's work and not my work. My work is to submit, and again it's repeated in verse 24: Faithful is he who calls you; he will bring it to pass. To me, the great difference in a very simple way between law and Grace is that law is man trying to produce something that pleases God, and Grace is God producing in us that which pleases him. [00:09:07]
Worship is something so completely centered in God. It's got nothing to do with me. It's got nothing to do with what God's done for me. It's got to do with God himself, with the person of God. It's very difficult to define. It's a thing that brings intimacy between man and God, between God and man. [00:21:20]
God wants us to have a pure spirit. Jesus spoke in John chapter 4 and verse 24: God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. So I just want to say a few words first of all about worshiping God in the spirit. [00:12:28]
Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Our spirit can very easily be defiled. There's a defilement of the flesh, which I would say refers to outward sin, and defilement of the spirit, which refers to inward motives, attitudes, etc., which we can cover up very easily. [00:29:00]
The Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit and tells us things concerning defilement in our spirit, which we can very easily ignore and still keep a good testimony before men. You can live years, all your life, with a good testimony before men and completely ignore the voice of the spirit telling us about filthiness in the spirit. [00:34:23]
The law of the spirit is life, a life which can taste. You don't need rules. You don't need a list of bad movies and good movies or bad books or good books, bad websites, good websites. You don't need them. It's life and the rejection of something which doesn't have the life of God in it. [00:31:49]
The mark of a spiritual man is one mark: that he's comfortable in the most holy place. He's comfortable when he's worshiping God. If our service for God and our activity means more to us than worshiping God, I would say we put the cart before the horse. [00:15:40]
Blessed are the pure in heart, or we could say pure in spirit, for they shall see God. Look at the privilege. If I keep my spirit pure, I shall live with a constant vision of God in my spirit, which is more than even being a prophet. [00:40:13]
The Holy Spirit will give you a sense in your spirit when something is wrong. We tend to go very often by our mind, what our mind or our reason tells us, but through the years, I've discovered that it's far safer to go by what our spirit tells us. [00:46:27]
The longing of God as he looks down upon the Earth, where there are so many whom he has redeemed, and he's seeking for worshippers. The question is whether he finds them in us. It's more exciting to serve, and that's why carnal people prefer that. Worship is more something personal between us and God. [00:19:59]
Imagine living in this world and having that attitude to the honor of men, to the praise and approval of people, to money, a comfortable life, and everything that the devil can offer. We'll really be free. That's the result of worship. That's the result of getting to know God. [00:28:46]