Embracing Wholeness Through Faith and Worship
Summary
In the sermon titled "Faith, Healing and Prayer Pt 12 Be More Impressed with Who Jesus Is," the speaker, whose name is not directly inferred from the title, begins by welcoming the congregation and online viewers, encouraging them to engage with the sermon through handouts and note-taking. The speaker acknowledges the abundance of teachings on faith and the rejection of some of these teachings by the body of Christ, citing examples such as Brother Kenneth E. Hagen's book "Plans, Purposes, and Pursuits" and the issue of prosperity preaching.
The sermon then delves into the importance of faith and worship, using the story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus to illustrate the significance of returning to God in gratitude and worship. The speaker emphasizes that true worship stems from being more impressed with who God is than what He does. The concept of desire is also discussed, with the speaker explaining that a genuine desire for God aligns with His will and leads to salvation and healing.
The speaker asserts that salvation and healing are already accomplished works through Jesus, and believers simply need to receive them. They explain that God's work is finished and that Jesus' sacrifice has provided everything necessary for believers. The sermon also touches on the uniqueness of individuals in relation to faith, stating that while the message of faith may vary, the application remains consistent across different churches.
The importance of taking every thought captive and aligning them with the Word of God is highlighted, with the speaker using the analogy of breaking a horse to illustrate the process of bringing thoughts into obedience. The speaker also encourages vocal expressions of faith and blessing others, even those who may cause irritation.
The speaker shares a personal testimony of being made whole by God, contrasting their transformation with others who may have been cleansed but still carry scars. They emphasize the importance of seeking wholeness, not just healing. The sermon concludes with a call to focus on God for peace and healing, inviting those who feel disconnected to come forward for prayer and anointing.
Key Takeaways:
- The act of worship is not merely a response to what God has done, but a recognition of who He is. When we are more impressed with God's character than His actions, our faith becomes rooted in His unchanging nature, leading us to a deeper and more consistent relationship with Him. This perspective helps us avoid the pitfalls of legalism and transactional faith, where we only seek God for what He can do for us. [38:55]
- The speaker highlights that desire for God should be cultivated within the heart, not as a means for personal gain, but as a reflection of God's will. When we delight in the Lord, our desires become aligned with His, and this alignment opens the door to receiving His promises, including salvation and healing. This principle underscores the importance of seeking God for who He is, rather than merely for the benefits He provides. [15:40]
- Salvation and healing are presented as completed works of Jesus Christ, not as rewards to be earned. The speaker emphasizes that believers are to receive these gifts through faith, as they are already deposited in the 'bank of heaven' through Jesus' sacrifice. This understanding shifts the focus from striving to achieve to simply receiving what has been graciously given. [31:32]
- The speaker encourages believers to take every thought captive and submit it to the authority of Jesus and the Word of God. By doing so, we can reshape our belief system and align it with God's truth. This process is crucial for maintaining a healthy spiritual life and for exercising authority over negative thoughts and influences. [01:01:59]
- Wholeness is a key theme of the sermon, with the speaker urging the congregation not to settle for partial healing but to seek the complete restoration that God offers. This wholeness goes beyond physical healing to include emotional and spiritual restoration, reflecting the state of humanity before the fall of Adam. The speaker's personal journey from brokenness to wholeness serves as a testament to the transformative power of faith in God. [45:18]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 17:11-19 (The story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus)
2. Psalm 37:4 ("Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.")
3. 2 Corinthians 10:5 ("We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.")
#### Observation Questions
1. What did the ten lepers do when they saw Jesus from a distance? (Luke 17:12-13)
2. How did Jesus respond to the lepers' plea for mercy? (Luke 17:14)
3. What was the reaction of the one leper who returned to Jesus after being healed? (Luke 17:15-16)
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of taking every thought captive? ([01:01:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think only one leper returned to thank Jesus, and what does this reveal about gratitude and faith? (Luke 17:15-18)
2. How does delighting in the Lord align our desires with His, according to Psalm 37:4 and the sermon? ([14:23])
3. What does it mean to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ, and how can this practice impact our daily lives? (2 Corinthians 10:5, [01:01:59])
4. The sermon emphasizes being more impressed with who God is rather than what He does. How can this perspective change our approach to worship and faith? ([27:34])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were more focused on what God could do for you rather than who He is. How did that affect your faith and relationship with Him? ([27:34])
2. The one leper who returned to Jesus was made whole, not just healed. In what areas of your life do you need to seek wholeness rather than just a solution to a problem? ([39:44])
3. How can you cultivate a genuine desire for God in your heart this week? What specific actions can you take to delight in the Lord? ([14:23])
4. Identify a negative thought that frequently troubles you. How can you take this thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? ([01:01:59])
5. Think of someone who has caused you irritation or harm. How can you bless them with your words and actions this week, as encouraged in the sermon? ([01:02:52])
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of vocal expressions of faith. How can you incorporate vocal praise and declarations of faith into your daily routine? ([01:01:59])
7. Reflect on the speaker's personal testimony of being made whole. How can you share your own story of transformation with others to encourage their faith? ([43:24])
Devotional
Day 1: Worship Beyond God's Wonders
True worship is rooted in awe of God's nature, not just His deeds. Recognizing God's character as the foundation of faith leads to a deeper, more consistent relationship with Him, beyond the blessings He bestows. Worship in this way transcends circumstances and fosters a heart of gratitude. [38:55]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 - "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of worship that focuses on God's character rather than His blessings in your life?
Day 2: Aligning Desires with Divine Will
Desiring God for who He is aligns one's heart with His will, opening the door to His promises. This alignment is not for personal gain but reflects a heart that truly delights in the Lord, leading to salvation and healing. [15:40]
Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Reflection: What are the desires of your heart, and how do they reflect your relationship with God?
Day 3: Receiving from the Bank of Heaven
Salvation and healing are gifts from Jesus, already accomplished and waiting to be received. Faith is the key to accessing these gifts, which are not earned but graciously given through Christ's sacrifice. [31:32]
Isaiah 55:1 - "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to shift from striving to receiving God's gifts?
Day 4: Captive Thoughts, Liberated Life
Taking every thought captive to Christ transforms belief systems and aligns them with God's truth. This mental discipline is essential for spiritual health and authority over negative influences. [01:01:59]
2 Corinthians 10:5 - "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Reflection: What thoughts do you need to take captive today, and how can you actively submit them to Christ?
Day 5: Seeking Wholeness in Christ
God offers complete restoration, not just healing. This wholeness encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life, reflecting humanity's intended state before the fall. [45:18]
Joel 2:25 - "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you."
Reflection: What does seeking wholeness in Christ look like for you, and how can you pursue it starting today?
Quotes
"Our mind is the round pen, the Holy Spirit is that stake in the center, and the rope is the Word of God. You lasso the thought with the Word and pull it to the Holy Spirit, making it obey the Word of God." [01:01:59] (Download)
"When we speak our word, it's planting seed and a crop will come up from those words. What we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth, we get to see." [01:03:31] (Download)
"Every person receives on their level revelation from the Word. Faith has different flavors everywhere you go, reflecting the uniqueness of each congregation and individual." [11:38] (Download)
"And if you take the process and go to the redemptive message that we teach, which is the cross, the burial, and the resurrection, you will see the cleansing, the healing, and the wholeness of God provided for us in Christ Jesus." [46:56] (Download)
"But the person who was made whole doesn't have to tell a story. Because they are the story. Everything about them preaches it. Because wholeness is not partial or part of something that they received from God. Wholeness is who they are." [48:09] (Download)
"And when we come back to the source in a true posture of worship, with the reception of anything from God, that's when he can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that you may ask or think. Because faith should always draw you back to the source." [48:09] (Download)
"The reality of God becomes the reality of man through faith. That's why the just must live by faith." [35:47] (Download)
"The Word is talking about the desire God will give you, okay? His desire, it's his desire that he will give you when you delight yourself in him, alright? And that desire is to desire him and what he wants and what he wants is you and you and me." [15:40] (Download)
"Because of the finished work of redemption, because what Jesus did, you're already considered saved. You just haven't received it yet if you're not saved. So God is not going to save you. It's already done." [31:32] (Download)
"Everything that he does that produces a material blessing, a healing blessing, a physical blessing, a financial blessing, whatever the blessing is, it should draw you closer to the source. It should draw you closer to Jesus. So you don't focus on what he did. You focus on who he is." [38:55] (Download)
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