Embracing the Unchanging Light of Christ's Presence
Summary
In the aftermath of Christmas, we find ourselves reflecting on the enduring presence of Jesus in our lives. The joy and anticipation of the holiday season may have passed, but the light of Christ remains unchanged. Jesus is alive, present, and actively working in our lives. This is a time to remember that despite the challenges and heartaches we may face, Jesus understands our struggles and offers us redemption through His sacrificial death. In Him, we have been bought back, forgiven, and lavished with the riches of God's grace.
The Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians reminds us of the human condition, which remains unchanged over the centuries. Just as the people of Ephesus faced their own challenges, we too grapple with the complexities of life. Yet, in Jesus, we find redemption and forgiveness. God's grace is abundant, and He lavishes His gifts upon us, offering wisdom and understanding to navigate our lives. The mystery of God's will is revealed in Jesus, whose birth signifies God's desire to make His home with us, His children.
The fear of missing out is a common struggle, exacerbated by modern society. We worry about missing opportunities, experiences, or blessings. However, God's assurance is that we are chosen, predestined according to His plan. This plan, activated through Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, ensures that we are never orphaned or forsaken. God's purpose is to bring unity to all things under Christ, offering us a life full and complete in Him.
As we move forward, we are reminded that everything works in conformity with God's purpose. Despite the uncertainties and fears we face, God's plan is unfolding, and His promise of grace, mercy, and peace is steadfast. We are included in the community of believers, embraced by God's love and guided through life's valleys. In Christ, we find hope, salvation, and the assurance that we are never alone.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Unchanging Presence of Jesus: Despite the passing of Christmas, the light of Jesus remains constant in our lives. He is alive and present, offering redemption and forgiveness through His sacrificial death. This enduring presence provides hope and assurance in the face of life's challenges. [03:28]
2. God's Lavish Grace: God's grace is abundant, and He lavishes His gifts upon us. Through Jesus, we receive wisdom and understanding to navigate our lives. This grace is not about our worthiness but about God's desire to bless us abundantly. [07:51]
3. The Fear of Missing Out: In a world filled with opportunities and experiences, the fear of missing out can create anxiety. However, God's assurance is that we are chosen and predestined according to His plan. We are never missing out on His love and purpose for our lives. [09:39]
4. God's Mega Plan: God's plan, activated through Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, ensures that we are never orphaned or forsaken. This plan brings unity to all things under Christ and offers us a life full and complete in Him. [14:01]
5. Inclusion in God's Community: We are included in the community of believers, embraced by God's love and guided through life's valleys. In Christ, we find hope, salvation, and the assurance that we are never alone. God's promise of grace, mercy, and peace is steadfast. [14:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:28] - The Unchanging Light of Jesus
- [07:51] - Lavished with Grace
- [09:39] - Overcoming the Fear of Missing Out
- [14:01] - God's Mega Plan
- [17:30] - Inclusion in God's Community
- [20:45] - Assurance of Salvation
- [23:10] - Embracing God's Purpose
- [26:00] - Living in Unity Under Christ
- [29:15] - The Promise of God's Peace
- [32:00] - Conclusion and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 1:7-10
2. 1 John 3:1
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon say about the enduring presence of Jesus after Christmas? [03:28]
2. How does the sermon describe God's grace and the way it is given to us? [07:51]
3. What is the "fear of missing out" according to the sermon, and how does it relate to God's plan for us? [09:39]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of being chosen and predestined by God? [14:01]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. In Ephesians 1:7-10, what does it mean to have redemption through Jesus' blood, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about forgiveness and grace? [03:28]
2. How does the sermon interpret the lavishness of God's grace in our lives, and what implications does this have for how we view our own worthiness? [07:51]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the fear of missing out and how it contrasts with God's assurance of our inclusion in His plan? [09:39]
4. How does the sermon describe God's mega plan, and what does it mean for believers to be included in this plan? [14:01]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the presence of Jesus in your life after a significant event. How did that experience provide hope and assurance during a challenging time? [03:28]
2. In what ways have you experienced God's grace being lavished upon you? How can you share this grace with others in your daily life? [07:51]
3. How does the fear of missing out manifest in your life, and what steps can you take to trust in God's plan and assurance for you? [09:39]
4. Consider the idea of being chosen and predestined by God. How does this understanding affect your sense of identity and purpose? [14:01]
5. How can you actively participate in God's mega plan to bring unity to all things under Christ in your community or church? [14:01]
6. Think about a time when you felt excluded or like an outsider. How can the message of inclusion in God's community change your perspective and actions towards others? [14:01]
7. What practical steps can you take this week to embrace the assurance of salvation and live in the peace that God promises? [14:01]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: The Ever-Present Light of Jesus
In the aftermath of Christmas, the joy and anticipation of the holiday season may have passed, but the light of Christ remains constant in our lives. Jesus is alive, present, and actively working in our lives, offering redemption and forgiveness through His sacrificial death. This enduring presence provides hope and assurance in the face of life's challenges. Just as the Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesians of the unchanging nature of Jesus, we too can find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands our struggles and offers us redemption. His presence is a beacon of hope, guiding us through the complexities of life. [03:28]
Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV): "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight."
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to recognize the unchanging presence of Jesus today? How can you invite His light into that area?
Day 2: Abundant Grace Beyond Worthiness
God's grace is abundant, and He lavishes His gifts upon us, offering wisdom and understanding to navigate our lives. This grace is not about our worthiness but about God's desire to bless us abundantly. Through Jesus, we receive the wisdom and understanding needed to face life's challenges. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God's grace is a gift, not something we earn. It is a reminder that despite our imperfections, God's love and grace are freely given, allowing us to live a life full of purpose and meaning. [07:51]
2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt unworthy of God's grace. How can you embrace His abundant grace and allow it to transform your perspective today?
Day 3: Overcoming the Fear of Missing Out
In a world filled with opportunities and experiences, the fear of missing out can create anxiety. However, God's assurance is that we are chosen and predestined according to His plan. We are never missing out on His love and purpose for our lives. This assurance allows us to rest in the knowledge that God's plan is perfect, and we are included in His divine purpose. By trusting in His plan, we can overcome the fear of missing out and embrace the life He has designed for us. [09:39]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where the fear of missing out is prevalent. How can you trust in God's plan and find peace in His assurance today?
Day 4: Unity in God's Mega Plan
God's plan, activated through Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, ensures that we are never orphaned or forsaken. This plan brings unity to all things under Christ and offers us a life full and complete in Him. God's purpose is to bring everything together in harmony under Christ, and we are invited to be a part of this grand design. By aligning ourselves with His plan, we can experience the fullness of life that He offers, knowing that we are never alone or abandoned. [14:01]
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's plan for unity in your community or relationships today? What steps can you take to promote harmony under Christ?
Day 5: Embraced in God's Community
We are included in the community of believers, embraced by God's love and guided through life's valleys. In Christ, we find hope, salvation, and the assurance that we are never alone. God's promise of grace, mercy, and peace is steadfast, and we are called to be a part of His family. This inclusion in God's community provides us with support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. By embracing this community, we can experience the fullness of God's love and the joy of walking alongside fellow believers. [14:01]
1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Reflection: How can you actively engage with and contribute to your community of believers this week? What role can you play in supporting and encouraging others in their faith journey?
Quotes
That's why it's so important that we gather regularly in worship and regular opportunity to hear what God has done and what he has promised to continue to do, not just with the beauty, the beauty, the beauty, the beauty of coming into the world like you came into the world, in that sense, born like you, and yet so different from you, different, not in terms of, oh, I don't feel stuff, oh, I don't, I'm not going to have to face the struggles of adolescence or the helplessness of crying out, mom's busy somewhere out here, I am crying as an infant, and no one's listening. I mean, he knows. He knows. And he also knows. He knows that he is so different than you and me, that is, he was not sucked into the darkness of the world, nor of his own desire, which is something we all struggle with at times, to exert ourselves over against someone else or to find our hope outside of the relationship with the Father. [00:02:06] (82 seconds)
In him we have redemption that is we've been bought back through his sacrificial death his blood when you hear blood in scripture think jesus sacrificial death the phrase is used uh with with veterans at times okay they gave they shed their blood right what does it mean they're dead they they got between the enemy the enemy and the people behind them we have redemption we have been bought back through jesus sacrifice what our sin does to us sin is rebellion god loves his children but boy we're not always so very good children all right i mean i love my children there's some things i was with all my grandkids uh not all nine of them uh tell you what there there's some rascals in that group already but that doesn't mean i don't love them you know please don't jump on me don't pull my hair okay the forgiveness of sins all is well in accordance with the riches the riches of god's grace he is abundant in his gifts he lavished those gifts upon us do you see this do you see this all right oh the lord says i want you to see what i'm doing here and it's not like look at me and oh boy i'm so good and you're so bad no he said i want you to see here on highway 290 right now whatever's going on in your life he lavished it upon us he could have just uh the spirit could have moved paul just to say oh he gave us his love i love that word lavish saint john uses it also in first john chapter 3 verse 3 where he says see what love the father has lavished upon us you know at times you feel only things lavished upon me is upset and heartache and despair all right whoa stop that's the darkness the darkness jesus has lavished with all wisdom and understanding he knows like a wise physician knows exactly what the problem is wisdom and understanding he made known to us the mystery of his will that is what he was really about he had to show us what he was about we we couldn't figure it out on our own he showed us and And he showed us when Jesus was born. The will of the father. What is the will of the father? [00:04:43] (148 seconds)
To make his home with his children. That's the will of the father. You know people struggle. And at times. Yeah what's the will of God? Do I take this job? Do I take that job? Do we move? Do we not move? Do I say this? Okay whatever. Those are little wills. I mean they're. But the big will. Now we're talking mega. We're talking large. The large. Desire of God. The will. His good pleasure. [00:07:25] (27 seconds)
We need to hear this. I need to hear it. You need to hear it. And his purpose. Was to put in effect. When the times. Reach their fulfillment. To bring unity. To all things. In heaven and on earth. Under Christ. Under Christ. That is. God's plan. Is to. In the. In the short. Moment. Today. We confessed our sins. For instance. And the Lord assures you. And I shared his words. These weren't words. I thought up on the way out here. Okay. I thought. Wouldn't it be nice. If. You know. The Lord's words. Your sins are forgiven. [00:08:44] (38 seconds)
When you look at someone. That you have. You're sideways with. And everyone is sideways. With somebody. Okay. Lord. Work in me. To be a source of blessing. And forgiveness. In their life. Now. You know what? Guess what? Some people don't deserve forgiveness. After what they did. Have you noticed? Of course. I guess. So Bill here. Doesn't deserve forgiveness either. Right? But. [00:09:24] (34 seconds)
Knowing that the Lord is forgiven. Grants us. An opportunity to connect. Perhaps in new ways. As the year unfolds. Which it will next. I guess. The 1201. Wednesday morning. We'll be right back. Because of Jesus. Through Christ. It's all about Jesus. What was Christmas about? [00:09:59] (22 seconds)
what is today about well it's all about jesus ultimately oh yes we have things to do but ultimately it's all about jesus and then these final uh portion of this beautiful scripture in him we were also chosen there was uh just i'm gonna say something about that after the comma here there is uh i don't know if you've ever experienced this the fear of missing out the fear of missing out i think social media has exacerbated uh particularly in a in in younger generation oh my goodness look they're doing this they're doing this she gets to do that he's over here oh i'm missing out i'm missing out you know that sense of a fear of missing out creates anxiety there's something that i should have to do for you i'm missing out i'm missing out i'm missing out i'm missing out i'm missing out and am i going to have there's something that i missed that if i had it my life would be so much better the fear of missing out people use that uh in the financial world ai [00:11:32] (71 seconds)
artificial intelligence oops maybe oops i missed i missed whoa you know could have got into navidi or whatever it is oh i oh i missed out missed out i have in austin i know there are people that i know that remember the first uh meeting of anyone that owned a nickel a share a nickel of a share they were more than a nickel dell remember dell uh -huh all right so he said yeah we were sitting in a gym on folding chairs and i doubled my money you know got in on the ground floor i don't know what it was 10 15 bucks and uh and of course then that 10 and 15 bucks i don't have to tell you how many if you kept it a little bit longer what it would be you know like four or five ten years longer he's oh man you know i got out doubled my money and i hate to think about what i left on the table you know the fear of missing out you ever had it children uh you know mentioned with a bunch of grandkids oh they don't want to miss out it's not like they're terrible and mean and ugly kids it's just they don't want to miss out well she got that all right you know do i get this that's why we always counted points presence in our in our family all right the fear of missing out now what if you missed out on life what if you've been on the wrong horse what if there's a sense of oh my goodness i have really messed up and there's no going back i'm missing out on an embrace a love a peace a strength you know we can fear that we're missing out on something and that's the fear of missing out on something and that's the fear of missing out on something and this is this is the lord's assurance that after the dust settles and the dust will settle after all has been said and done guess what at a given moment all will have been said and done the big picture you have been chosen someone said whoa now wait a minute me [00:13:56] (125 seconds)
does the lord know what he's doing here of course he does this is a personal word a personal word you have been chosen oh he's writing to those ephesians back no he's writing to us because god's word endures forever [00:16:58] (18 seconds)
you were chosen not because and you are don't get me wrong i mean you're cute and all that and good looking right but it wasn't that you were chosen because god does not ever want any of his children to be orphaned to be refugees to be children to be children to be children to be children to be children to be refugees to have to live under a bridge to have to live in a icebox box [00:17:22] (28 seconds)
you have been predestined now some people get sideways on this because some teaching is that oh god predestined some to not know him and to go into the darkness forever no god knew what he was doing he figured it out beforehand he determined beforehand what he was going to do it's not like oh i guess i better send somebody there to help no from the beginning he knew that we would need help in grace and mercy he would understand the complexity of adolescence he would understand what happens with poor decisions he would understand what happens to a life that is lived separated from the father's love and grace and he said i am planning not just planning i have a mega plan i have determined it already before you showed up i pre -determined it according to the plan of him the father father god in the old testament called jehovah translation yahweh the father of abraham isaac and jacob the father of jesus the father who we just uh we're gonna confess who created heavens and the earth him who is the one who has all the world in his hand the plan to work out everything in your life and yes boy there are chapters in your life and you turn the page and my goodness i'm gonna i'm gonna have to write more of upset the lord understands our lives and how they roll but there is a bigger plan and that plan in jesus when he was born god says i'm activating the plan no longer are you going to have to wait for the one who's going to take upon himself the sins of the world that's what that's what christmas is about and that it foreshadows easter when jesus rose from the dead after having been planted in a grave a corpse taken off of an executioner's cross dead weight placed in a rented tomb the father said the plan his death is not going to win the sins of the world [00:18:09] (149 seconds)
i will forgive and my children i will never forsake that's the plan he works out everything there are things in your life you have no idea how they're going to turn out and some of those can be pretty frightening can't they hmm lord says i want you to hear my word everything works in conformity that is it is shaped by what the lord has purposed what he's planned last wednesday we celebrated lord help me to see your father and son and what i am going to plan as it is unfolded in jesus who comes into the world and into our lives in order that we who were the first to put hope in christ might be for the praise of his glory [00:22:52] (56 seconds)
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