Embracing the Gift: Receiving from a Living God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound question of whether we can truly have an exchange with a living God. Reflecting on personal experiences and biblical truths, we delved into the practice of hearing from God, emphasizing the importance of creating space to receive His voice. We began by discussing the concept of receiving, contrasting it with our usual mode of doing. Children, with their unreserved acceptance of gifts, serve as a model for how we should receive from God. As we grow older, we often become more like cats, hesitant and skeptical about receiving.
We then moved into practical exercises of receiving three specific things from God: His favor, forgiveness, and faith. Receiving favor involves understanding that God deals in grace, not fairness. This grace is an undeserved favor that God extends to us through Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate unfair trade by giving His life for our sins. This favor is something we must learn to accept, despite our ingrained desire for fairness.
Next, we focused on receiving forgiveness, a fundamental aspect of our relationship with God. Forgiveness is not a one-time event but a continual process. We must shift our perception of God from a condemning figure to one who speaks kindness and restoration. Through a guided visualization, we experienced the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of accepting His forgiveness.
Finally, we discussed receiving faith, which is the gateway to all other spiritual gifts and virtues. Living by faith, as opposed to sight, requires us to trust God's word over the world's. This often involves taking risks and stepping out in trust. We examined how faith grows through hearing the word of God and aligning our actions with His truths.
In conclusion, we took a moment to sit in silence, allowing God to speak to us individually. We sealed our time together with communion, an act of receiving Jesus and all that He offers us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Receiving as a Spiritual Practice: Embracing the practice of receiving from God is foundational to hearing His voice. Unlike our daily lives filled with tasks and to-do lists, God invites us to come with open hands and hearts, ready to receive His gifts without skepticism or hesitation. This posture of receiving is exemplified by children, who accept gifts with joy and without questioning their worthiness. [02:57]
2. Understanding God's Favor: God's favor is not about fairness but about grace. This grace is an undeserved favor that God extends to us through Jesus Christ. Accepting this favor requires us to let go of our desire for fairness and embrace the abundant grace that God offers. This grace is a continual gift that we must learn to receive daily, recognizing that it is not based on our merit but on God's love. [10:09]
3. The Power of Forgiveness: Receiving forgiveness is crucial for a healthy relationship with God. God is not a condemning figure but one who speaks kindness and restoration. When we mess up, His voice calls us to come back to Him, not to run away. Understanding and accepting His forgiveness allows us to live free from shame and condemnation, continually turning back to Him in repentance. [21:57]
4. Living by Faith: Faith is the doorway to all other spiritual gifts and virtues. Living by faith means trusting God's word over the world's and often involves taking risks. Faith grows through hearing the word of God and aligning our actions with His truths. This requires us to actively pursue God's voice and be willing to step out in trust, even when it feels risky. [33:03]
5. The Invitation to Deeper Faith: God continually invites us to deeper faith, which often sounds like a call to take a risk. This invitation requires us to trust His word and move beyond our comfort zones. By receiving and acting on these invitations, we unlock a life of greater spiritual depth and experience the fullness of what God has for us. [34:32]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:43] - Personal Story: Hearing from God
[01:47] - How to Hear from God
[02:21] - Prayer and Deep Breath
[02:57] - The Practice of Receiving
[03:38] - Children as Exemplars of Receiving
[05:15] - The Struggle with Receiving as Adults
[06:16] - Object Lesson: Receiving a Gift
[07:26] - Receiving God's Favor
[10:09] - Understanding Grace
[12:08] - Jesus: The Ambassador of Grace
[14:22] - Receiving Kindness and Favor from God
[15:26] - Receiving Forgiveness
[19:08] - The God in Our Minds
[21:57] - The Voice of Forgiveness
[23:28] - Repentance and Returning to God
[27:18] - Guided Visualization: Receiving Forgiveness
[31:59] - Receiving Faith
[33:03] - Living by Faith, Not by Sight
[34:32] - The Invitation to Deeper Faith
[38:17] - Discerning God's Voice
[40:20] - Taking Risks in Faith
[41:24] - Poem: The Invitation of Faith
[42:15] - One Minute of Silence
[44:18] - Communion: Sealing the Act of Receiving
[45:31] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) - "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
2. Acts 10:43 (NIV) - "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
3. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) - "For we live by faith, not by sight."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 2:4-5 say about the nature of God's grace and how it relates to our salvation?
2. According to Acts 10:43, what is the result of believing in Jesus?
3. In the sermon, how did the pastor describe the difference between receiving like a child and receiving like an adult? ([03:38])
4. What practical example did the pastor use to illustrate receiving God's favor? ([06:16])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God's grace as described in Ephesians 2:4-5 change our perspective on fairness and favor? ([10:09])
2. What does it mean to receive forgiveness continually, and how does this affect our relationship with God? ([21:57])
3. How can living by faith, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:7, influence our daily decisions and actions? ([33:03])
4. Why is it important to shift our perception of God from a condemning figure to one who speaks kindness and restoration? ([21:57])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to receive a gift or favor. How can you adopt a more childlike attitude towards receiving from God? ([03:38])
2. In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to accept God's grace and favor? How can you remind yourself that God's favor is not about fairness but about grace? ([10:09])
3. Think about a recent mistake or sin. How can you practice receiving God's forgiveness and letting go of shame and condemnation? ([21:57])
4. Identify a situation where you need to live by faith rather than by sight. What steps can you take to trust God's word over the world's? ([33:03])
5. How can you create space in your daily routine to hear from God and receive what He has for you? ([02:57])
6. What risks is God inviting you to take to deepen your faith? How can you step out in trust this week? ([34:32])
7. During the next communion, how can you more fully embrace the act of receiving Jesus and all that He offers? ([44:18])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Practice of Receiving
Description: Embracing the practice of receiving from God is foundational to hearing His voice. Unlike our daily lives filled with tasks and to-do lists, God invites us to come with open hands and hearts, ready to receive His gifts without skepticism or hesitation. This posture of receiving is exemplified by children, who accept gifts with joy and without questioning their worthiness. [02:57]
As we grow older, we often become more like cats, hesitant and skeptical about receiving. This shift can hinder our ability to hear from God and accept His blessings. By intentionally creating space to receive from God, we open ourselves to His voice and His gifts, allowing Him to work more profoundly in our lives.
Matthew 18:3-4 (ESV): "And he said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"
Reflection: Think of a time when you hesitated to receive a gift or blessing. How can you adopt a childlike posture of openness and joy in receiving from God today?
Day 2: Understanding God's Favor
Description: God's favor is not about fairness but about grace. This grace is an undeserved favor that God extends to us through Jesus Christ. Accepting this favor requires us to let go of our desire for fairness and embrace the abundant grace that God offers. This grace is a continual gift that we must learn to receive daily, recognizing that it is not based on our merit but on God's love. [10:09]
Understanding God's favor involves recognizing that He deals in grace, not fairness. Jesus Christ made the ultimate unfair trade by giving His life for our sins, offering us favor that we do not deserve. This favor is something we must learn to accept, despite our ingrained desire for fairness.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle with the concept of fairness. How can you shift your perspective to embrace God's grace and favor instead?
Day 3: The Power of Forgiveness
Description: Receiving forgiveness is crucial for a healthy relationship with God. God is not a condemning figure but one who speaks kindness and restoration. When we mess up, His voice calls us to come back to Him, not to run away. Understanding and accepting His forgiveness allows us to live free from shame and condemnation, continually turning back to Him in repentance. [21:57]
Forgiveness is not a one-time event but a continual process. We must shift our perception of God from a condemning figure to one who speaks kindness and restoration. Through a guided visualization, we can experience the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of accepting His forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?
Day 4: Living by Faith
Description: Faith is the doorway to all other spiritual gifts and virtues. Living by faith means trusting God's word over the world's and often involves taking risks. Faith grows through hearing the word of God and aligning our actions with His truths. This requires us to actively pursue God's voice and be willing to step out in trust, even when it feels risky. [33:03]
Living by faith, as opposed to sight, requires us to trust God's word over the world's. This often involves taking risks and stepping out in trust. By aligning our actions with His truths, we can grow in faith and experience the fullness of what God has for us.
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: The Invitation to Deeper Faith
Description: God continually invites us to deeper faith, which often sounds like a call to take a risk. This invitation requires us to trust His word and move beyond our comfort zones. By receiving and acting on these invitations, we unlock a life of greater spiritual depth and experience the fullness of what God has for us. [34:32]
God's invitation to deeper faith often involves stepping out of our comfort zones and taking risks. By trusting His word and acting on these invitations, we can experience a life of greater spiritual depth and fullness. This requires us to be attentive to His voice and willing to move beyond our comfort zones.
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What is one risk you feel God is inviting you to take in your faith journey? How can you take a step towards that today?
Quotes
1. "Maybe you've never thought about that as a spiritual practice, I happen to believe it's actually the foundation of hearing anything from God, and to receive is the antithesis of doing. We spend our life doing, right? You wake up, some of us have a to-do list, some of us just know there are things that have to happen today, and we spend our lives doing to get things. And we accidentally sometimes, I think, apply that mentality to our connection with God, but that's not how He operates. Thank goodness. He actually wants you to just come open and willing to receive what He has to give you." [02:57] (38 seconds)
2. "Kids are amazing receivers. I will never forget my youngest daughter at her fifth birthday party. She was in front of her pile of presents, and she was just, everything was amazing. She opened up every single present, and it was just as amazing as the last. She even got something we later called Garage Sale Kitty. It was just like this mangy-looking cat from someone, you know, a stuffed cat. She loved Garage Sale Kitty just as much as she loved everything else. She just received all of it." [04:12] (27 seconds)
3. "Miles just received $100 because guess what Miles did? He put his hand up in the air and he said, I will take something. That is a good receiver. And I know that right here in this space where we are gathered as a community today, and anywhere our community is gathered, that God can meet every single one of us and give us something far, far, far more valuable to our life than a $100 bill. As good as that is. I believe that God has something for each of us today." [06:49] (33 seconds)
4. "God doesn't deal in fairness. God actually deals in favor. I was trying to teach my kids this. Well, I don't know. Maybe halfway. And also I just wanted some ice cream. But when we were out at ice cream, this has happened more than one time as they were growing up. I don't eat a whole cup of ice cream because it upsets my stomach. But I can handle a few bites. And so I would take a clean spoon. And I'd be like, who gets to give mom a bite? And they're all like, not me. You know, take his, take hers. And so I'd choose somebody's and I would have a bite of ice cream. Because I would only take one or two bites. Relax, kids. And they would inevitably say, that's not fair." [09:19] (40 seconds)
5. "Grace is God's unfairness to us. Grace is an undeserved favor from a God who didn't have to give it. He didn't have to do anything that looks like anything toward us. And yet, over and over and over in the Bible, we learn that he is a God of grace. And it throws us off because we have a hard time with that concept. It's actually a uniquely Christian concept. And in our life experience, we kind of understand that favor is a gift. That favor and grace coming toward us is often not really how it works. But if you want to hear the voice of God, you have to hear a voice speaking favor over your life. Speaking grace to you. Wanting to actually give to you." [10:09] (46 seconds)
6. "What we believe that God thinks about our screw-ups makes a massive difference in whether we can hear his voice because he wants to speak forgiveness. And I don't know about you, but none of us are going to stop messing up anytime soon. This is a fundamental thing that we need to be able to hear his voice saying to us, what if he's actually speaking kindness to us? What if his point when we mess up is actually to say, please come to me. Don't run from me. That's not what we're going to do. That's not what we're going to do. That's not what I want. What if his voice is gentle and his spirit is kind and the whole point of your connection is that restoration would occur, that reconciliation would occur, that love would blossom again wherever it's not." [20:33] (47 seconds)
7. "The voice of God never sounds like condemnation. The voice of God never sounds like shame. The voice of God will never want to cancel you. The voice of God is not trying to get you to pay a high price, stew in all your pain for just a little while longer till you learn your lesson. This is not the voice of God. John 3 17 says, God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. What we assume about God as we fumble our way through life makes a huge difference to the voice of forgiveness, whether we ever actually hear that." [21:57] (39 seconds)
8. "Receiving faith is something that the voice of God is going to be speaking to you. He's going to be offering you chance after chance after chance to receive a deeper faith because faith is the doorway to all those other things that you want and that you need and that you might ask God for in the living of your life. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, For we live by faith and not by sight. We live by faith and not by sight. He contrasts two different ways of living. There's living by faith and there's living by sight. I would just say what he meant by sight is what he meant by sight, what you can see of and in the world. And then there's another realm that you could live in called by faith." [33:03] (48 seconds)
9. "When God speaks, he's going to invite you into opportunity. He's going to invite you into opportunity. He's going to invite you into opportunities to have more faith. And in my personal experience, this almost always sounds like his voice asking you to take a risk. That's what I've discovered in this realm of his voice and what it looks like to actually receive a deeper, bigger, bolder faith. He almost always will put a risk in front of you. And his voice is saying, will you do it? Will you come this way? Will you give that thing? Will you go to that place? Will you trust me in this? Will you take a risk?" [34:32] (38 seconds)
10. "Faith comes through words about Jesus. We're going to have to actively pursue those. If you want to hear the word of God, if you want to grow in your faith, deepening your faith, you're going to have to hear words about Jesus. You're going to have to read scripture. You're going to have to hear teaching. You're going to have to actively pursue that because you will be receiving something. And what you'll be receiving is just whatever the world is serving up. You'll be receiving the things that tell you to live by sight because, of course. So if you want to live a different way, if you want to have a life of faith, if you want to have a bigger, bolder, deeper faith, which is what God wants for you, why? Because there's more life there. He wants to give you more life, more gifts, more things in the kingdom of God." [35:26] (49 seconds)
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