Embracing True Deliverance Through Obedience and Holiness

Devotional

Day 1: The Cost of True Deliverance

True deliverance is not just about escaping physical bondage but also about achieving spiritual and emotional freedom. It is tested when we can return to environments that once enslaved us and still maintain our holiness. This requires a deep reliance on God and a commitment to His commands. The Israelites were instructed to destroy the nations occupying the Promised Land to prevent being led astray. Similarly, we must cut off anything that could lead us away from God, even if it is difficult or costly. True deliverance demands vigilance and obedience, ensuring that we do not fall back into old habits.

[06:45]

Deuteronomy 7:2-3 (ESV): "and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons."

Reflection: Think of a habit or relationship that has previously led you away from God. What steps can you take today to ensure it does not regain control over your life?

Day 2: Holiness in Unholy Situations

Being holy doesn't mean avoiding unholy situations; it means maintaining your sanctity even in the midst of them. Once you lose the appetite for sin, it no longer controls or entices you. This is the true test of deliverance and spiritual maturity. The Israelites were called to be holy even as they entered a land filled with idolatry and sin. Similarly, we are called to maintain our holiness in a world that often opposes God's ways. This requires a steadfast commitment to God's commands and a reliance on His strength.

[08:47]

1 Peter 1:15-16 (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.'"

Reflection: Identify a situation in your life where you are surrounded by unholy influences. How can you actively maintain your holiness in that environment today?

Day 3: God's Strategic Placement

God often places us in situations where we are outmatched by the world's standards but are equipped with His favor and strength. This teaches us to rely on Him rather than our abilities. Our enemies will be our footstools, and we must trust that God has already fought the battle for us. The Israelites were placed in a land with powerful nations, yet God promised to deliver their enemies into their hands. We too must trust in God's strategic placement and His promise to be with us in every battle.

[10:07]

2 Chronicles 20:15 (ESV): "And he said, 'Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's."'"

Reflection: Think of a current challenge where you feel outmatched. How can you rely on God's strength and favor rather than your own abilities to overcome it?

Day 4: The Danger of Compromising Relationships

Forming alliances or relationships with those who do not share our commitment to God can derail our spiritual journey. Such relationships can lead us into sin and away from God's plan for our lives. The Israelites were warned against making covenants or intermarrying with the nations in the Promised Land to prevent being led astray. We must be vigilant and obedient, cutting off anything that could lead us away from God, even if it means ending relationships that compromise our faith.

[17:29]

2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV): "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

Reflection: Reflect on your relationships. Are there any that are leading you away from God? What steps can you take to address this and realign your relationships with your commitment to God?

Day 5: Gratitude for God's Guidance

We must be grateful for God's guidance and protection, even when His answers to our prayers are not what we expected. God's "no" is often a blessing in disguise, protecting us from paths that would lead us away from His plan for our lives. The Israelites were reminded of their chosen status and called to live in holiness, showing forth the praises of God who called them out of darkness. We too are a chosen people, and our gratitude should reflect in our obedience and trust in God's plan.

[13:42]

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV): "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where God's answer to your prayer was "no." How can you express gratitude for His guidance and trust that His plan is better than your own?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into Deuteronomy 7, focusing on the theme "Do What God Said Do." The passage recounts God's instructions to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. God commanded them to utterly destroy the nations occupying the land and to avoid making covenants or intermarrying with them. This was to prevent the Israelites from being led astray to worship other gods. The message emphasized the importance of obedience to God's commands and the cost of true deliverance.

Deliverance is not merely about escaping physical bondage but also about spiritual and emotional freedom. True deliverance means being able to return to environments that once enslaved us without falling back into old habits. Holiness is not about avoiding unholy situations but maintaining one's sanctity even in the midst of them. The Israelites' journey teaches us that God often places us in situations where we must rely on His strength, not our own. He promises to deliver our enemies into our hands, but we must be vigilant and obedient, cutting off anything that could lead us away from Him.

We also discussed the dangers of forming alliances or relationships with those who do not share our commitment to God. Such relationships can derail our spiritual journey and lead us into sin. The message called for a return to true consecration, which involves living a holy life even when no one is watching. It challenged us to examine our lives for areas where we have compromised our faith and to seek God's help in purging those influences.

Finally, we were reminded of the importance of gratitude for God's guidance and protection, even when His answers to our prayers are not what we expected. God's "no" is often a blessing in disguise, protecting us from paths that would lead us away from His plan for our lives. We are a chosen people, called to live in holiness and to show forth the praises of God who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

###

Key Takeaways

1. zv5srHsvBU&t=405s'>[06:45]
2. Holiness in Unholy Situations: Being holy doesn't mean avoiding unholy situations; it means maintaining your sanctity even in the midst of them. Once you lose the appetite for sin, it no longer controls or entices you. This is the true test of deliverance and spiritual maturity.

3. God's Strategic Placement: God often places us in situations where we are outmatched by the world's standards but are equipped with His favor and strength. This teaches us to rely on Him rather than our abilities. Our enemies will be our footstools, and we must trust that God has already fought the battle for us.

4. The Danger of Compromising Relationships: Forming alliances or relationships with those who do not share our commitment to God can derail our spiritual journey. Such relationships can lead us into sin and away from God's plan for our lives. We must be vigilant and obedient, cutting off anything that could lead us astray.

5. Gratitude for God's Guidance: We must be grateful for God's guidance and protection, even when His answers to our prayers are not what we expected. God's "no" is often a blessing in disguise, protecting us from paths that would lead us away from His plan for our lives. We are a chosen people, called to live in holiness and to show forth the praises of God.

### [06:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:50] - Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 7
[05:36] - Introduction: Do What God Said Do
[06:45] - The Cost of True Deliverance
[08:47] - Holiness in Unholy Situations
[10:07] - God's Strategic Placement
[12:32] - Cutting Off the Enemy
[13:42] - Gratitude for God's Guidance
[15:58] - The Reality of Demonic Influence
[17:29] - The Danger of Compromising Relationships
[19:04] - The Importance of Favor and Anointing
[20:27] - The Consequences of Wrong Marriages
[22:01] - The Challenge of Living Holy
[24:20] - The Threat of Sexual Reorientation
[25:21] - The Need for Consecration
[26:47] - The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
[28:47] - Revival and Deliverance
[31:00] - Avoiding Celebrity Culture in the Church
[32:37] - Returning to True Worship
[33:24] - A Prayer for Purification
[34:24] - Praise and Worship
[35:21] - Conclusion: A Chosen People

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did God give the Israelites regarding the nations they were to encounter in the Promised Land? ([02:50])
According to the sermon, what does true deliverance entail beyond physical freedom? ([06:45])
How does the sermon describe the concept of holiness in unholy situations? ([08:47])
What are the dangers of forming alliances or relationships with those who do not share our commitment to God, as discussed in the sermon? ([17:29])

Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon emphasize that true deliverance costs something? How does this relate to the Israelites' experience in Deuteronomy 7? ([06:45])
How can maintaining holiness in unholy situations be a test of spiritual maturity? What does this reveal about one's spiritual growth? ([08:47])
What does the sermon suggest about God's strategic placement of His people in challenging situations? How does this build reliance on God rather than on personal abilities? ([10:07])
In what ways can compromising relationships derail one's spiritual journey, according to the sermon? How can one identify and cut off such influences? ([17:29])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced true deliverance. How did it cost you something, and how did it test your spiritual and emotional freedom? ([06:45])
Think of a situation where you were surrounded by unholy influences. How did you maintain your holiness, and what strategies helped you stay true to your faith? ([08:47])
Have you ever felt outmatched by a situation but saw God's favor and strength come through? Share your experience and how it strengthened your reliance on God. ([10:07])
Are there any relationships or alliances in your life that might be compromising your spiritual journey? How can you address these and seek God's help in purging those influences? ([17:29])
How do you respond when God's answers to your prayers are not what you expected? Can you recall a time when God's "no" turned out to be a blessing in disguise? ([13:42])
In what ways can you show gratitude for God's guidance and protection in your daily life? How can this attitude of gratitude impact your spiritual growth? ([13:42])
As a chosen people called to live in holiness, what specific steps can you take this week to consecrate your life and show forth the praises of God? ([34:24])

Sermon Clips

1. "Real deliverance, church. It's going to cost you something. Real deliverance is not easy. And I say that because you're not around stuff or the people that once had you enslaved. And just because you have not been around it does not mean that you are delivered from them. Just because you're not in an environment does not mean that you are free. Example, anyone that's ever had an addiction is only one hit from being what they used to be." [06:45] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Because to me, being holy doesn't mean that I avoid unholy situations. Being holy means I can go into an unholy situation and come out with my holiness still intact. See, I can go back to the drug house and minister to them. And it doesn't bother me. Because once you have lost the appetite for it, it does not tempt you anymore. It does not control you anymore. It does not entice you anymore." [08:47] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God told me to tell somebody this morning, you're not going to have to work hard to get this one. Your enemy is going to be your footstool. The enemy is going to be the one to buy the house that you wanted. He said your enemy is going to cultivate the land for you. If you don't believe it, look at verse 1. He says, when the Lord your God shall bring you into the land, when you go to possess it, and cast out many nations that were there before you, seven nations that are greater and mightier than you." [10:07] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Some of you want me to think that you live the good life and you've never done anything wrong. Ain't nobody in the church. Is really saved but you nobody got the Holy Ghost with you. Come on. I was born at night but not last night. So let's be honest up in here. All of us have put ourselves in positions that compromise our witness. There are some things that we crave and have a passion for that are bad for our spiritual development. But the only reason it has not destroyed you is because the grace and mercy of God." [13:42] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "There are some prayers that you ought to thank God that he didn't answer for you. There are some people that you wanted that you ought to thank God that God said. No, God. I thank you this morning for saying no, even when I didn't understand why you were saying no, even when I was disappointed that you said, no, even when I cried, I thank you this morning. God that you said, no, thank you when I thought I wanted it when I thought I wanted it." [14:41] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "You shouldn't make any agreement. It said you shouldn't make any agreement. With anyone that doesn't have your appetite or passion for the things of God that you have and there are some people that God will bring in your life for a particular season. And you can tell when the grace for that season has ended because everything they say get on your nerves everything they do get on your nerves. Because something that is a blessing can become a curse. If you hold on to it too long." [17:29] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "There is one thing that I have that they don't have and that is favor of God and the favor of God is only for the assignment that he's assigned me to do. See they might be more skillful and they might be more gifted. But they don't have the same anointing as I have. See Aaron could speak better than Moses. But he didn't have the anointing that Moses had on his life. Y'all ain't talking to me." [19:04] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Because when certain doors open up, it's hard to shut that door again. When you let that old flame back in your life, it's hard to shut that door again. Watch this. Once your child has ever experienced the joy and the pleasure of a physical sexual relationship, there's nothing that you can say to them that they're going to hear you. Once their bell has been rung, once that bell has been rung, it's hard to bring them into any type of sober thinking. They're crazy after that." [22:01] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We need to go back to being consecrated. Because consecration is not just fasting and praying. Real consecration is when you are not in church. When you're home and I can't see you. When you're on the job cussing like a seller. Mm-hmm. I'm talking about you just keep looking at the bringing to life emblem and they'll never know. But nobody should have to tell you. How to live. There ought to be some conviction." [25:21] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "If you say you save and have the Holy Ghost. Then there ought to be some conviction. When you're lying. When you're gossiping. When you're cheating stealing. And sleeping around with people. You're not married to. Come on. The list goes on. There ought to be some conviction. Look at the person next to you. Tell them there ought to be some conviction. Now don't turn until they answer you." [26:05] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?