Empowered by the Spirit: Surrendering to Christ's Dominion
Summary
The sermon begins with an expression of gratitude for the congregation's presence and an invitation to engage in church activities, such as filling out connection cards and participating in hospitality. The speaker also highlights the importance of sharing prayer concerns and looks forward to future events like the Christmas cantata. The sermon opens with a prayer for strength and inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
The speaker then leads the congregation in a call to worship from Psalm 100, emphasizing joy and service to the Lord. The significance of Christ the King Sunday is discussed, marking a time to anticipate Christ's final victory and the fulfillment of God's kingdom. The importance of faith in Jesus and love for others is underscored, with a prayer for the church to grow in wisdom and understanding.
Addressing the congregation's feelings of weakness, the speaker reminds them of Paul's prayer for the church, which underscores the power of God to bring life, healing, and deliverance. Examples of individuals transformed by God's power through the church's prayers are shared, highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers.
The sermon affirms the belief in Jesus Christ's return and the importance of worshiping Him as King. The congregation is invited to honor Christ and affirm their belief in one God, the Father, the creator of all, and in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God, emphasizing His divine nature and role in creation. The sermon concludes with a prayer of gratitude for Jesus Christ and a desire to know God's power through the Holy Spirit.
Music is used to set the tone for the sermon, creating an atmosphere of worship and anticipation for the message. The congregation is then led in offering gifts and tithes to God, praying for the ability to use everything under the dominion of Jesus Christ in service to the world. The Lord's Prayer is recited, and the sermon concludes with a prayer for the congregation to leave empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The speaker acknowledges the power given to the church through the Holy Spirit and encourages the congregation to offer up prayers for loved ones and the world. Prayers are made for comfort, hope, healing, and for God to use the church as a blessing to others. The importance of being faithful to Jesus Christ and showing compassion is emphasized.
The relationship between power and authority is discussed, with the speaker explaining that in the Christian church, power comes from acknowledging the dominion of Jesus Christ. The challenge of surrendering all aspects of life to Christ's authority is presented, along with a personal story about learning self-control.
The struggle to control motivations and allow Jesus to have dominion over actions and desires is reflected upon. The speaker discusses the "worship wars" and the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth. The sermon also touches on the historical division between the Catholic and Orthodox churches and the ongoing challenge of living under Christ's dominion.
The sermon concludes by acknowledging the challenges faced during the pandemic, the absence of some churchgoers, and the need to navigate these difficulties with faith in God's power.
Key Takeaways:
- The act of worship is not confined to a particular style or setting but is truly about the spirit and truth with which one worships. This perspective helps believers focus on the essence of worship rather than getting entangled in disputes over preferences, as seen in the historical "worship wars" within the church.
- The power of the Christian church is rooted in the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ's dominion over all aspects of life. This power is not derived from human strength or resources but from the spiritual surrender to Christ's authority, which is above all rule and dominion.
- The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in empowering believers, providing comfort, hope, and healing. The church is called to breathe in God's holy breath and allow the Spirit to intercede, reminding them of their power in prayer and their calling to be blessings to others.
- The Christian journey involves a continuous process of surrendering one's motivations, actions, and desires to the dominion of Jesus Christ. This surrender challenges believers to set aside personal preferences and justifications in favor of serving Christ and loving others.
- Faithfulness to Jesus and love for neighbors should take precedence over personal preferences and the desire to justify one's views. This principle is essential in navigating conflicts, whether in historical church divisions or contemporary church and community matters.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 100:1-5
- "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
2. Ephesians 1:15-23
- "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key elements of worship mentioned in Psalm 100? How are believers encouraged to approach God? ([04:54])
2. According to Ephesians 1:15-23, what does Paul pray for the believers in Ephesus to receive from God? ([14:58])
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between power and dominion in the Christian context? ([18:34])
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the transformative power of prayer within the church community? ([36:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul emphasizes the "immeasurable greatness of his power." How does this power manifest in the lives of believers according to the sermon? ([14:58])
2. The sermon discusses the concept of Jesus having dominion over all aspects of life. What challenges might believers face in surrendering all areas of their lives to Christ's authority? ([22:31])
3. Reflecting on the historical "worship wars" mentioned in the sermon, what does it mean to worship in "spirit and truth"? How can this perspective help resolve conflicts over worship styles? ([25:54])
4. How does the sermon suggest believers can navigate feelings of weakness and powerlessness, especially in the context of the church's mission? ([35:20])
#### Application Questions
1. The sermon emphasizes the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth rather than focusing on personal preferences. How can you apply this principle in your own worship experience? ([25:54])
2. Reflect on a specific area of your life where you struggle to surrender to Christ's dominion. What steps can you take this week to begin surrendering that area to His authority? ([22:31])
3. The sermon highlights the power of prayer in transforming lives. Can you think of a situation or person in your life that needs prayer? How will you commit to praying for them this week? ([36:59])
4. How can you actively participate in your church community to help others feel empowered by the Holy Spirit, especially those who may feel weak or powerless? ([35:20])
5. The sermon discusses the challenge of controlling motivations and allowing Christ to have dominion over actions and desires. Identify a recent situation where your motivations were not aligned with serving Christ. How can you change your approach in similar future situations? ([24:13])
6. Considering the historical divisions within the church, how can you promote unity and understanding in your own church community? What practical steps can you take to bridge gaps and foster reconciliation? ([29:16])
7. The sermon calls for faithfulness to Jesus and love for neighbors. Think of a neighbor or community member you can show love to this week. What specific action will you take to demonstrate Christ's love to them? ([30:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Essence of Worship Beyond Form
True worship transcends the confines of style and tradition, focusing on the authenticity and truthfulness of one's devotion to God. Worship is not about the external expressions but the internal posture of the heart, aligning with the spirit of truth in every setting. [07:40]
John 4:23-24 - "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your worship is genuine and focused on God, regardless of the environment or music style?
Day 2: Surrender to Christ's Dominion
The church's strength is found in the complete surrender to Jesus Christ's authority over every aspect of life. This surrender involves recognizing that true power comes from yielding to His will, rather than relying on human capabilities or control. [07:40]
Ephesians 1:21-22 - "Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to acknowledge Christ's authority, and how can you begin to submit that area to Him?
Day 3: Empowered by the Spirit
Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to provide comfort, hope, and healing to the world. The church is called to be a vessel through which the Spirit works, reminding us of the transformative power of prayer and our role as a blessing to others. [07:40]
Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: In what ways can you open yourself up to the Holy Spirit's work in your life to become a source of hope and healing for others?
Day 4: Continuous Surrender to Jesus
The journey with Christ involves an ongoing surrender of our motivations, actions, and desires to His lordship. This process challenges us to prioritize His will over our preferences, leading to a life of genuine discipleship and love for others. [07:40]
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What personal preferences or justifications are you holding onto that may be hindering your full surrender to Christ?
Day 5: Faithfulness and Compassion Over Preference
In all aspects of life, faithfulness to Jesus and compassion towards others should take precedence over personal preferences and justifications. This principle guides us in resolving conflicts and living out our faith in a divided world. [07:40]
James 2:8 - "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right."
Reflection: Can you identify a situation where you've let personal preferences overshadow your compassion? How can you act differently to prioritize love and faithfulness to Jesus?
Quotes
"It's an encouragement to each other when we gather in one another's presence to worship." [02:36] (Download)
"We pray that you give us the will and the desire and the strength to take advantage of this opportunity to lift up our voices with thanksgiving and praise, to worship you with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength." [05:16] (Download)
"When we feel ourselves in that place of weakness, it might be a good time for us to remember Paul's prayer for the church then and now that we do not serve a god who is weak but we serve a god who had the power to speak all that is around us into existence." [35:25] (Download)
"It's not that we're striving for power so that we can have dominion, but as we enter into this new world, it's our striving to let all that is within us and to let all that is around us to be under the dominion of Christ so that we can feel that we are empowered to carry out the mission of the church." [38:39] (Download)
"It's as we acknowledge the dominion of Jesus Christ that the church is best able to be empowered by that power of God." [19:28] (Download)
"How capable, how willing, how conscious are you and I of ensuring that Christ has that place of all both in the church of Jesus Christ and in the lives of individual followers of Jesus Christ." [21:31] (Download)
"When we anticipate that time when Christ comes in final victory and the kingdom of God is fulfilled, a kingdom that is forming and has formed and will form, we anticipate that day when Christ is over all and all of the brokenness and all of the flaws and all of the failures of our human existence are insignificant because we are bound together in that eternal kingdom." [13:39] (Download)
"Sometimes wanting to justify myself becomes a stronger desire in my life than wanting to love my neighbor as myself, and I have to allow Jesus Christ to have dominion over my wanting to justify myself." [28:56] (Download)
"We might have become more concerned with things like preferences and wanting to justify our views than we were about what Paul celebrates in the first part of the prayer: our faithfulness to Jesus and our love for neighbors born out in service." [32:13] (Download)
"We pray that you comfort those who are mourning and that you encourage those who need hope. We pray that you heal those who are sick. And we pray that you use us to be blessings to them in the ways that we are able." [48:10] (Download)
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