Embracing Victory: From Settled to Sold Out

Devotional

Day 1: Refusing to Settle for Less Than God’s Promise

When God calls His people to step into His promises, it is easy to become overwhelmed by obstacles and choose comfort over obedience. The Israelites, standing on the edge of the Promised Land, saw the abundance God had prepared but allowed fear and difficulty to convince them to settle for less, even longing to return to slavery rather than trust God’s word. In our own lives, we often stop short of God’s best because the next step seems too hard or risky. But God’s invitation is to trust Him, move forward in faith, and refuse to settle for anything less than what He has promised. [40:15]

Numbers 13:23–14:4 (ESV)
23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.” 30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
14:1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Reflection: Where in your life have you chosen comfort or fear over stepping into what God has promised you, and what is one step of faith you can take this week to move forward?

Day 2: The Danger of Being Satisfied with Less

Sometimes, we become content with “good enough” and stop short of God’s full blessing, just as the tribes of Reuben and Gad chose land outside the Promised Land because it was easier and more convenient. Satisfaction with less than God’s best can keep us from experiencing the fullness of His promises. It is tempting to settle for what is comfortable or familiar, but God calls us to press on, even when it means crossing difficult rivers or facing new challenges, so that we do not miss out on what He truly desires for us. [55:42]

Numbers 32:1–5 (ESV)
1 Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock. 2 So the people of Gad and the people of Reuben came and said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the chiefs of the congregation, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land that the Lord struck down before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have settled for “good enough” instead of pursuing God’s best, and what would it look like to trust Him for more?

Day 3: The Power of a Sold-Out Life

When God’s people finally chose to be sold out—fully devoted and obedient—He did the miraculous, drying up the Jordan so they could cross on dry ground. Their wholehearted commitment became a testimony to future generations and to the world of God’s power. A sold-out life is marked by complete devotion to Jesus, prioritizing Him above all else, and trusting Him to do what only He can do. When we refuse to settle or be satisfied with less, God’s work in us becomes a witness to those around us, drawing others to Him. [58:16]

Joshua 4:19–24 (ESV)
19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

Reflection: What is one area where you need to move from half-heartedness to being fully sold out for Jesus, and how could your commitment impact those around you?

Day 4: Devotion to God’s Word as the Foundation

The early church was marked by a deep devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Their commitment to God’s Word was the foundation for unity, generosity, and spiritual growth, and God used their sold-out devotion to add to their number daily. If we want to see God move in our lives and in our church, it must begin with a renewed hunger for His Word—reading it, living it, and letting it shape every part of us. [01:10:44]

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Reflection: How can you intentionally build a daily habit of reading and applying God’s Word, and who can you invite to join you in this commitment?

Day 5: Craving and Living by the Word of God

A true relationship with Jesus creates a craving for His Word, like newborn babies long for milk. The Word of God is living and active, able to transform us from the inside out, but only if we refuse to settle for secondhand knowledge and instead pursue it for ourselves. When we are sold out to the Word, we grow in our salvation, discern truth from error, and are equipped to live out God’s calling. It is no longer acceptable to be satisfied with spiritual immaturity or ignorance—God calls us to hunger for His truth and let it shape our lives. [01:10:44]

1 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV)
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Reflection: What practical step can you take today to deepen your hunger for God’s Word—whether it’s starting a reading plan, joining a group, or asking someone to help you learn how to study the Bible?

Sermon Summary

There is a powerful truth that needs to be heard today: the hour of darkness is over because Jesus Christ is alive. Whatever darkness has been pressing in, whatever weight from the past or present, it does not have the final word. Jesus’ resurrection means that the grave is empty, and the power of darkness is broken. Because of this, we are invited to live in the joy and strength of the Lord, not in defeat or resignation.

But the question remains: how are we living in response to this victory? Are we settling, satisfied, or sold out? These three words—settled, satisfied, and sold out—define not just our spiritual lives, but every area where we set goals or pursue growth. To settle is to accept “this is as good as it gets,” to become comfortable and stop moving forward. To be satisfied is to say, “this is fine,” content with less than what God has promised, unwilling to do the hard work of pursuing more. But to be sold out is to have complete and utter devotion to Jesus, prioritizing Him above all else.

We see these attitudes in the story of Israel. When God promised the land, most of the spies settled for fear and comfort, refusing to step into what God had already given. Others, like Caleb, were sold out, ready to trust God for the impossible. Some tribes became satisfied with land short of the promise, unwilling to cross the river for God’s best. But when the people finally sold out, God did the miraculous—He dried up the Jordan, led them into the land, and left a testimony for generations.

This is not just a story for ancient Israel. It’s a call for us, as individuals and as a church. Are we settling for less than God’s best? Are we satisfied with “good enough,” or are we sold out for what God wants to do in and through us? The early church in Acts was sold out: devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, unity, and generosity. God used their devotion to add to their number daily and to make His power known in the world.

It all starts with being sold out to the Word of God. If we are not reading, craving, and living by the Word, we are settling or satisfied, not sold out. The Word is living and active, and it is the foundation for knowing truth, growing in Christ, and being used by God. Today is the day to stop settling, stop being satisfied, and sell out to Jesus and His Word.

Key Takeaways

1. The Resurrection Ends the Reign of Darkness Jesus’ resurrection is not just a historical event; it is the declaration that darkness no longer has authority over our lives. Whatever bondage, shame, or defeat we carry, the empty grave proclaims that those days are over. We are invited to live in the freedom and victory that Christ has secured, refusing to let the past or present darkness define us. [28:13]
2. Settling and Satisfaction Are Subtle Enemies of God’s Best It is easy to settle for comfort or become satisfied with “good enough,” both in our spiritual lives and in our daily pursuits. Like Israel, we may see the promise but shrink back from the challenge, convincing ourselves that what we have is sufficient. Yet, God’s call is always forward—He invites us to trust Him for more, to refuse complacency, and to step into the fullness of His promises. [40:15]
3. Being Sold Out Means Complete Devotion, Not Partial Commitment To be sold out is to prioritize Jesus above all else, letting every other pursuit fall under His lordship. This kind of devotion is visible—it shapes our decisions, our relationships, and our willingness to do hard things for the sake of Christ. Only when we are sold out do we see God move in ways that leave a legacy for others to witness and remember. [58:16]
4. The Word of God Is the Foundation for a Sold-Out Life A sold-out life begins with a sold-out commitment to the Word of God. Craving, reading, and living by Scripture is not optional for those who want to know and follow Jesus deeply. Without a daily relationship with the Word, we are vulnerable to deception and unable to discern truth from error in a world full of competing voices. [70:44]
5. Revival and Impact Flow from a Community That Refuses to Settle When God’s people collectively refuse to settle or be satisfied with the status quo, and instead sell out to God’s purposes, the result is transformation—both in the church and in the surrounding community. God’s power is displayed, lives are changed, and even those outside the church are drawn to the reality of Christ. This is the kind of move of God that can change a city, a region, and generations to come. [59:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:13] - The Hour of Darkness Is Over
[29:31] - Surrendering to Christ’s Victory
[31:15] - Honoring Faithful Servants
[32:29] - God’s Call to New Ministry
[40:15] - Settled, Satisfied, or Sold Out?
[55:42] - The Danger of Satisfaction
[58:16] - The Power of Being Sold Out
[59:25] - God’s Glory Displayed to the World
[60:44] - The Need for Revival in Our City
[61:37] - The Early Church’s Devotion
[70:44] - Craving and Living the Word
[71:40] - Responding to God’s Call
[72:37] - No More Settling: A Call to Action
[73:22] - Selling Out to the Word of God
[73:58] - Invitation to Respond
[74:39] - Prayer for Surrender and Change
[75:17] - Worship and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Numbers 13:23–14:4 (ESV) — > 23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs.
> 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.
> 25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.
> 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
> 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
> 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.
> 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”
> 30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”
> 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.”
> 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.
> 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
> 14:1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.
> 2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
> 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
> 4 And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV) — > 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
> 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
> 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
> 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
> 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
> 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1 Peter 2:1–3 (ESV) — > 1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
> 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
> 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Observation Questions

In Numbers 13–14, what was the difference between Caleb’s response and the response of the other spies when they saw the promised land?
According to Acts 2:42–47, what were the early believers devoted to, and what was the result of their devotion?
In 1 Peter 2:2, what does Peter compare our desire for God’s Word to, and why is that significant?
The sermon described three attitudes: settled, satisfied, and sold out. What does it mean to be “settled” or “satisfied” according to the examples given?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think most of the Israelites chose to settle or be satisfied with less than what God promised, even after seeing the fruit of the land? What fears or obstacles might have influenced their decision?
The early church in Acts was described as “sold out” to Jesus and His Word. What does it look like for a church or a person today to be “sold out” in the same way?
The sermon said that being “sold out” starts with craving and living by the Word of God. Why is a daily relationship with Scripture so important for someone who wants to follow Jesus deeply?
The sermon mentioned that settling and satisfaction are “subtle enemies” of God’s best. How can someone tell if they have become settled or satisfied in their faith, rather than sold out?

Application Questions

The Israelites saw the promise but were afraid to step into it. Is there an area in your life where you know God is calling you to more, but you’ve been holding back out of fear or comfort? What would it look like to trust God and move forward?
The sermon challenged us to ask if we are “settling for less than God’s best.” Can you identify a specific area—maybe in your spiritual life, family, work, or relationships—where you have settled or become satisfied with “good enough”? What is one step you could take this week to move toward God’s best?
The early church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, unity, and generosity. Which of these do you find most challenging to be devoted to, and why? What is one practical way you could grow in that area?
The sermon said that being “sold out” starts with being sold out to the Word of God. How is your current relationship with the Bible? Do you crave it, read it, and live by it daily? If not, what is one change you could make this week to start building that habit?
The pastor said, “It is no longer okay and acceptable to say, ‘I don’t really know anything in the Bible, but that’s fine.’ It’s not fine.” What is one resource, person, or plan you could use to help you grow in your understanding of Scripture?
The sermon described how God’s power is displayed when a community refuses to settle. How could our small group or church take a step together to be more “sold out” for God’s purposes in our city?
The resurrection of Jesus means the “hour of darkness is over.” Is there any area of your life where you are still living as if darkness has the final word? What would it look like to live in the freedom and victory Jesus has secured for you?

Sermon Clips

The last words we will define are the concept of sold out. Are you really sold out? This is the definition of it: complete and utter devotion to Jesus, prioritizing him above all else in one's life. Are you sold out? Listen, if you take out our part that we're going to talk spiritual in just a minute, you take out to the athlete, you sold out. Coach, how long does it take to meet a group of athletes to figure out which ones of them are sold out and which ones have settled? About seven minutes. [00:41:43] (37 seconds) #SoldOutForJesus

You want to raise your children to follow Jesus, you got to be sold out to that. That doesn't just happen in our homes. Perfect, wonderful, absolutely fabulous marriages don't just happen because we sit around and watch TV and learn to love each other more. Those don't just work. You got to sell out to this stuff. [00:42:32] (19 seconds) #CommitToLead

Have we settled for less than what God's best is for us? Have we become satisfied? I've been to lots of churches this summer, and I would tell you that, man, I just really come into our church on a Sunday morning and go, well, you know, we're not perfect, but we've been doing pretty good. We got some good stuff going on, got some great people around here, we got some good leadership going on, so we're not everything we want to be, but we're pretty solid. It's a good, good little place to be. And then we get to that mindset of, you know what, I'm fine. And we get satisfied where God does not want us satisfied. [00:43:02] (39 seconds) #NeverSettleForLess

Spiritually, you're going to be asked that question throughout this day: in your relationship with Jesus, have you settled? In your relationship with Jesus, have you become satisfied? And we can look at the rest of that. You know, Jesus is the ultimate satisfier of the desire in us, I get that, but that's not what we're talking about today. We're talking about, hey, I come to church every once in a while, I just let the preacher preach to me because I don't want to read the Bible, so I'll just be satisfied with whatever he says. Have you become satisfied? Well, this is, it's probably not gonna get much better than this, so I'll just take this and be okay. Or are you sold out? Have you decided that this Jesus thing is all I really care about and everything else comes under that, but as long as I'm running to Jesus, all this other stuff will be okay? [00:43:42] (55 seconds) #FaithfulOrSettled

God told them this is already your property, it's already your land, I will give it to you, I've already given it to, I just need you to cross the river and go get it. And they said, no, that's a lot of work, that looks scary, some of us might die in the battle, we can't be doing that, let's settle for where we are. Listen, as individuals, we have to decide today spiritually if we have settled for where we are. [00:49:11] (33 seconds) #TrustAndAct

There are things that you and I can decide and trust God on that will make things better, but we got to do those things. We've talked about this before, there are a whole lot more if-then comments in the Bible than any of us ever give credit for. God says, if you do this, I will do this. And we look at that and go, sweet, God's gonna do this. And he says, yeah, but you ain't done this. We completely skip our part. [00:52:24] (29 seconds) #RejectSatisfaction

Listen, here's what happened. The people finally sold out to do whatever God called, and he dried up the river and let them cross on dry ground. So much so that they stopped and got some large stones out of the middle of it and came over to the next city and set them up for a reminder for people in the future. Hey, what are these stones here for? What do these rocks mean? That's the spot where God cleared up the river and dried it for us so we could walk across on dry ground. He wanted them to constantly remember that. [00:58:14] (33 seconds) #NoMoreCompromise

If you're going to claim Christ, if you're going to walk with Christ, what is a disciple? A person that knows Jesus, walks with him, and does what he says. We have to know the word of God because that's the only way you're going to know what's true. [01:09:45] (17 seconds) #SeekGodsDirection

But what we do learn is when I'm sold out to Christ, I want to know where I'm missing it. I want to know the next direction. I want to know what God's telling me. And the only way I'm going to get that is by opening the word and selling out to it. [01:11:06] (15 seconds) #KnowAndGrow

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