Encountering God: Embracing True Identity in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to delve into the profound experience of encountering God and understanding our true identity in Him. The primary goal is not merely to impart knowledge but to lead each one into a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit. This encounter is meant to mark you for life, transforming your understanding of who you are in Christ and how you relate to God.
We began by emphasizing the importance of positioning ourselves to receive from God. It's not about striving or achieving but about opening our hearts to receive the gifts He freely gives. We explored the concept of identity, focusing on humility and pride. Humility is agreeing with God about who we are, while pride is disagreeing with Him. This fundamental shift in perspective positions us in the flow of God's grace and away from the opposition that pride brings.
We also touched on the judgment of God, contrasting it with human judgment. God's judgment is always rooted in mercy and aims to restore us to our original design. In contrast, human judgment, born from the knowledge of good and evil, often leads to punishment and separation. This separation blinds us to God's true nature and our true identity.
A significant part of the message was the story of the rainbow, symbolizing God's covenant and the distortion that occurs when we remove God from our understanding. This distortion leads to a twisted self-perception and a life lived in opposition to God's design. However, through Christ, the veil is lifted, and we can see God and ourselves clearly.
We are called to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. As we do, we are transformed into His image, not by our efforts but by the Spirit of the Lord. This transformation allows us to reflect God's glory to the world, becoming mirrors of His good opinion of humanity.
Finally, we were challenged to surrender our pride and embrace God's judgment and opinion of us. This involves letting go of our self-imposed identities and receiving the identity God has kept secure for us in Christ. We are invited to see ourselves as God sees us, beloved and precious, and to live out this truth in our daily lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Positioning to Receive: Our role is to position our hearts to receive from God, not to strive or achieve. God's gifts are freely given, and our task is to open ourselves to receive them fully. This requires a posture of humility and readiness to encounter the Holy Spirit. [21:05]
2. Humility vs. Pride: Humility is agreeing with God about who we are, while pride is disagreeing with Him. Pride positions us in opposition to God's flow of grace, while humility aligns us with it. This alignment is crucial for experiencing God's transformative power in our lives. [30:00]
3. God's Merciful Judgment: God's judgment is always based on mercy and aims to restore us to our original design. Unlike human judgment, which often leads to punishment and separation, God's judgment seeks to bring us back into alignment with His will and purpose for our lives. [41:12]
4. Transformation through Beholding: We are transformed into the image of Christ by beholding His glory. This transformation is not triggered by our efforts but by the Holy Spirit as we position ourselves before Jesus. This process allows us to reflect God's glory to the world. [59:40]
5. Surrendering Pride: We are called to surrender our pride and embrace God's opinion of us. This involves letting go of our self-imposed identities and receiving the identity God has kept secure for us in Christ. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's truth and live out our true identity. [01:25:36]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:05] - Preparing to Receive
[23:02] - Encountering the Holy Spirit
[24:26] - Spiritual Blessings in Christ
[26:09] - The Veil is Torn
[28:11] - Identity and Judgment
[30:00] - Humility and Pride
[31:27] - Flowing with God's Grace
[32:17] - Revival in Berlin
[33:49] - The Rainbow and God's Covenant
[35:16] - The Spirit of Independence
[39:19] - The Two Trees of Judgment
[41:12] - God's Merciful Judgment
[46:17] - The Revelation of Jesus
[59:40] - Transformation through Beholding
[01:25:36] - Surrendering Pride and Embracing Identity
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. James 4:6 - "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
2. 2 Corinthians 3:18 - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
3. Colossians 3:3-4 - "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what is the difference between humility and pride? ([30:00])
2. How does the speaker describe the process of receiving from God? ([21:05])
3. What does the rainbow symbolize in the context of the sermon, and how is it distorted when God is removed from it? ([33:49])
4. What transformation occurs when we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? ([59:40])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of humility as "agreeing with God" challenge our usual understanding of humility? ([30:00])
2. In what ways does the speaker suggest that human judgment differs from God's judgment? ([41:12])
3. How does the speaker explain the significance of the veil being torn from top to bottom? ([26:09])
4. What does it mean to be transformed into the image of Christ by beholding His glory, according to the sermon? ([59:40])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you were striving to achieve something from God rather than positioning yourself to receive. How can you change your approach to be more open to receiving from God? ([21:05])
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility. Can you identify an area in your life where pride might be hindering your relationship with God? How can you practice humility in that area? ([30:00])
3. How do you typically respond to judgment, both from others and from yourself? How can you align your understanding of judgment with God's merciful judgment? ([41:12])
4. The speaker talks about the distortion of self-perception when God is removed from our understanding. Have you experienced this in your life? How can you work towards seeing yourself as God sees you? ([33:49])
5. What practical steps can you take to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ daily? How can this practice transform your life? ([59:40])
6. The sermon challenges us to surrender our pride and embrace God's opinion of us. What self-imposed identities do you need to let go of to fully receive the identity God has for you? ([01:25:36])
7. How can you become a mirror of God's glory to the world around you? Identify one specific way you can reflect God's good opinion of humanity in your interactions this week. ([59:40])
Devotional
Day 1: Positioning to Receive
Description: Our role is to position our hearts to receive from God, not to strive or achieve. God's gifts are freely given, and our task is to open ourselves to receive them fully. This requires a posture of humility and readiness to encounter the Holy Spirit. When we position ourselves to receive, we acknowledge that it is not by our efforts but by God's grace that we are blessed. This act of positioning is an act of faith, trusting that God is willing and able to pour out His blessings upon us. [21:05]
Bible passage: "For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling." (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a specific area in your life where you have been striving instead of resting in God's provision. How can you intentionally position yourself to receive from God in this area today?
Day 2: Humility vs. Pride
Description: Humility is agreeing with God about who we are, while pride is disagreeing with Him. Pride positions us in opposition to God's flow of grace, while humility aligns us with it. This alignment is crucial for experiencing God's transformative power in our lives. When we humble ourselves, we open the door for God's grace to work in us, transforming us into the image of Christ. Conversely, pride blinds us to our need for God and hinders our spiritual growth. [30:00]
Bible passage: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a recent situation where pride may have influenced your actions or thoughts. How can you choose humility in a similar situation in the future, agreeing with God's perspective of who you are?
Day 3: God's Merciful Judgment
Description: God's judgment is always based on mercy and aims to restore us to our original design. Unlike human judgment, which often leads to punishment and separation, God's judgment seeks to bring us back into alignment with His will and purpose for our lives. This merciful judgment is an expression of God's love, inviting us to return to Him and be restored. It is not about condemnation but about transformation and renewal. [41:12]
Bible passage: "For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men." (Lamentations 3:31-33, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt judged by others. How does understanding God's merciful judgment change your perspective on that experience and your response to it?
Day 4: Transformation through Beholding
Description: We are transformed into the image of Christ by beholding His glory. This transformation is not triggered by our efforts but by the Holy Spirit as we position ourselves before Jesus. As we gaze upon the beauty and majesty of Christ, we are changed from the inside out. This process allows us to reflect God's glory to the world, becoming mirrors of His good opinion of humanity. It is a journey of becoming more like Christ, not through striving but through surrender and contemplation. [59:40]
Bible passage: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: Spend a few moments today in quiet reflection, beholding the glory of Jesus. How does focusing on His character and love inspire you to reflect His image in your daily interactions?
Day 5: Surrendering Pride
Description: We are called to surrender our pride and embrace God's opinion of us. This involves letting go of our self-imposed identities and receiving the identity God has kept secure for us in Christ. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's truth and live out our true identity. Surrendering pride means acknowledging that our worth and value come from God alone, not from our achievements or the opinions of others. It is an invitation to live in the freedom and security of being God's beloved children. [01:25:36]
Bible passage: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you have been holding onto a self-imposed identity. What steps can you take today to surrender this to God and embrace the identity He has given you in Christ?
Quotes
1. "My goal is to lead you into an experience with God that marks you for life. That is the purpose of my teaching. The purpose of everything that I say from this point on is to position you and lead you and bring you to a place where you can deeply encounter God and be marked for the rest of your life." [21:05] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "It's one thing for heaven to pour something out but it's a completely other thing for you to receive what God's pouring out. God's role is to give but you have a role. Your role is not to strive, your role is not to try and achieve anything from God because you can't achieve a gift. A gift must be received." [21:05] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Humility positions you in the flow of God. It positions you in the flow of grace. When you turn and you adopt an attitude or a mindset of pride, and you say, my opinion, God, is I hold my opinion above yours, then what you do is you turn against the flow of grace, and now you're running against the grain." [31:27] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's judgment is always based on, founded on mercy. You know, God is love. Whoever abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. Whenever we step out of love, we step out of God. Whenever we step back into love, we step back into God. God always judges. His judgment is always based on mercy. It's never a judgment that's wanting to punish. It's always a judgment that is wanting to restore and bring you back to your original design." [40:28] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The truth is you cannot be whoever you want to be. You are who you are, or you are living out a lie, a perverted version of yourself. Because you did not make yourself. You have been made. You have a designer. You were designed with an idea in mind. And anything other than your design is not who you are. You cannot just be whoever you want to be." [37:47] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Then you also will appear with him in God's good opinion. When Christ who is your life appears when his life is manifest for you to see then you in him get to see God's good opinion of you." [57:46] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Your transformation is not triggered by your effort. Your transformation is triggered by your decision to position yourself in a place before Jesus whereby the Holy Spirit is attracted to you in a way where he transforms you. This is one of the most beautiful things about worship... As you behold him he does a work in you to transform you into his image." [59:40] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "God never saw us the way we saw ourselves. God always looked at us and said, I know who you are. I have never lost sight of you. Listen to this. Let me go into a few scriptures. Colossians 3 verse 3. For you died. And your life is hidden with Christ and God. So let me, let me say this. You died, but you're alive. So an old version of yourself died." [49:49] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You have been kept hidden, not in the broccoli section. You have been kept hidden in God with Christ in the same section as Christ, in the same category, not with the animals, not with the other part, not with the angels, but in the category of sons and daughters loved by the father. And you never weren't there. You, the original version of you has been kept safe there, even while you were still a sinner." [53:27] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You do not belong to you. You belong to another who has bought the rights to be your sole definer. You do not have the right to say, I am this in opposition to what you say, God. This can be in your face or it can be quite subtle." [01:13:41] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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