Experiencing God's Transformative Love and Presence

 

Summary

In today's gathering, I focused on the transformative power of God's presence in our lives and the profound love He has for each of us, as demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. I emphasized that our church is not about entertainment but about experiencing God's presence, which is the true Difference Maker in our lives. In times of adversity and turmoil, it is God's presence that offers the antidote to the chaos of the world, not better singing or preaching.

I shared that when we gather in worship, we should expect to encounter God's presence, which can lead to supernatural movements such as healings and salvations occurring right in our midst. The song "Just Give Me Jesus" encapsulates the essence of our desire for God's presence, as Jesus is everything we need.

I reminded us of the truth that God is not condemning or angry with us; rather, He is for us. This is clearly stated in John 3:16-17, where we see that God sent His Son not to condemn the world but to save it. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 5:7-8, further illustrates the depth of God's love by highlighting that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, reconciling us to God and allowing us to fully experience His love.

I also shared about the practical aspects of our church life, including the recent purchase and renovation of a building in Boliver, made possible through the faithful support and vision of our partners. I encouraged everyone to participate in the upcoming Easter services and to consider baptism as a next step in their faith journey.

Drawing from the theme "The Cross Equals Love," I explained that the cross is the ultimate symbol of love, as Jesus laid down His life for us. This act of love should be the foundation of our understanding of God's character and His intentions for us. I also touched on the importance of remaining in God's love by obeying His commandments, which allows us to fully receive the benefits of His love.

Lastly, I invited those who wanted to receive Christ or recommit their lives to Him to pray a simple prayer of salvation and recommitment. I emphasized the importance of taking next steps after making such a decision and offered resources and support to help with that journey.

Key Takeaways:

- God's presence is the Difference Maker in our lives, and it is in His presence that we find everything we need. When we worship with expectation, we open ourselves up to the supernatural workings of God, which can bring healing, comfort, and transformation. [49:33]

- The love of God is not conditional on our performance or goodness. God's love is demonstrated most profoundly in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This truth should liberate us from any fear of condemnation and empower us to live confidently in the love God has for us. [01:03:07]

- Our participation in the body of Christ, through giving and serving, enables us to be part of something greater than ourselves. Our contributions help facilitate the expansion of God's kingdom and the transformation of lives within our community and beyond. [56:16]

- The Cross equals love. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the greatest act of love and should be the cornerstone of our faith. Understanding and embracing this love is essential for a fulfilling relationship with God and a life filled with joy. [59:03]

- Remaining in God's love involves obedience to His commandments. This is not about earning His love but positioning ourselves to receive the fullness of His love and the blessings that come with it. When we stray, we must quickly return to God, who is always ready to restore us. [01:18:29]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 3:16-17 (NIV)
> "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

2. Romans 5:7-8 (NIV)
> "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

3. John 15:9-11 (NIV)
> "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 3:16-17, what was the purpose of God sending His Son into the world?
2. In Romans 5:7-8, how does Paul describe the nature of God's love for us?
3. What does Jesus instruct us to do in John 15:9-11 to remain in His love?
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how God's presence can manifest during worship? [49:33]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that God sent His Son not to condemn but to save the world (John 3:16-17) change our perception of God's character? [01:02:29]
2. What does it mean for us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, according to Romans 5:7-8? How should this impact our daily lives? [01:03:07]
3. In John 15:9-11, Jesus talks about remaining in His love by keeping His commandments. How does this concept of obedience relate to experiencing the fullness of God's love and joy? [01:18:29]
4. The sermon mentioned that God's presence is the true Difference Maker in our lives. How can we cultivate an expectation to encounter God's presence in our daily lives and during worship? [50:13]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence strongly in your life. How did it impact you, and what can you do to seek His presence more regularly? [49:33]
2. The sermon emphasized that God's love is not conditional on our performance. How can this truth help you overcome feelings of unworthiness or fear of condemnation? [01:03:07]
3. Jesus said that remaining in His love involves obeying His commandments. Identify one commandment you find challenging to follow. What steps can you take this week to better align with it? [01:18:29]
4. The pastor mentioned the importance of participating in the body of Christ through giving and serving. What is one specific way you can contribute to your church community this month? [56:16]
5. The Cross equals love. How does understanding the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as the ultimate act of love influence your relationship with God and others? [59:03]
6. Think about a time when you strayed from God's love. What brought you back, and how can you ensure you remain in His love moving forward? [01:18:29]
7. The sermon invited those who wanted to receive Christ or recommit their lives to Him to pray a simple prayer. If you have made such a decision, what are your next steps, and how can the group support you in this journey? [01:25:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering the Divine Difference Maker
In the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment, it is crucial to recognize that the true Difference Maker in life is the presence of God. This presence is not a passive force but an active source of transformation and healing. When individuals come together in worship, they should do so with the expectation of encountering God in a profound way. This expectation opens the heart to the possibility of supernatural occurrences such as healings and salvations, which are not uncommon when God moves among His people. The desire for God's presence is encapsulated in the longing expressed in the song "Just Give Me Jesus," which signifies that Jesus is the ultimate need and the one who can bring about the change one seeks in life. [49:33]

Psalm 84:1-2, 10 (ESV)
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God... For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper expectation to encounter God's presence in your daily worship and prayer life?

Day 2: Liberated by Unconditional Love
The love of God is a boundless and unconditional force that is not predicated on human performance or righteousness. This love was most profoundly demonstrated when Christ died for humanity while they were still sinners. This act of selfless sacrifice is a testament to the fact that God's love is not a reward for good behavior but a gift freely given. Understanding this liberating truth can dissolve fears of condemnation and empower individuals to live confidently, knowing they are cherished by God. This assurance allows for a life lived in the security of God's unwavering affection. [01:03:07]

1 John 4:18-19 (ESV)
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us."

Reflection: In what ways might you have misunderstood God's love as conditional, and how can this new understanding of His unconditional love change your relationship with Him?

Day 3: Contributing to the Kingdom's Expansion
The act of giving and serving within the church body is not merely a duty but a privilege that allows individuals to be part of something much larger than themselves. Through faithful support and collective vision, believers contribute to the expansion of God's kingdom and witness the transformation of lives both within their community and beyond. This participation is a tangible expression of faith and commitment to the church's mission, as seen in the recent purchase and renovation of a building in Boliver. Such acts of service and generosity are instrumental in facilitating the church's growth and outreach. [56:16]

Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Reflection: What is one way you can actively contribute to the work of your church community this week, and how does this act of service reflect your commitment to God's kingdom?

Day 4: The Cross as the Foundation of Love
The cross is the ultimate symbol of love, where Jesus laid down His life for humanity. This profound act of sacrifice should be the cornerstone of every believer's faith. Understanding and embracing the love demonstrated at the cross is essential for a fulfilling relationship with God. It is this love that should guide and inform every aspect of a believer's life, providing a foundation of joy and purpose. The cross is not just a historical event but a present reality that continues to shape the lives of those who believe in its power. [59:03]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: How does the reality of the cross and the love it represents influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?

Day 5: Obedience as a Path to Love's Fullness
Remaining in God's love is not about earning His favor but about positioning oneself to receive the fullness of His love and the blessings that accompany it. Obedience to God's commandments is a response to His love, not a prerequisite for it. When individuals stray from God's path, it is not a signal for them to earn their way back but rather an invitation to return to the love that is always waiting to restore them. This obedience is a journey of continual growth and alignment with God's will, leading to a deeper experience of His love and grace. [01:18:29]

James 1:22-25 (ESV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror... But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What is one commandment of God you find challenging to obey, and how can you take practical steps to align your actions with His will starting today?

Quotes

1) "Because we don't have much to offer for your enjoyment and entertainment but how many know he does, amen. He does, he absolutely does. And I really sense very much in my heart that we're living in a time when there's great adversity, where there's great turmoil, where there's great... people all frazzled from everything that's going on in life. Come on, how many of you know what I'm talking about? And I think the church needs to be offering an antidote for that, and it's not better singing and more and better preaching, it is giving more place to his presence, amen." [50:13]( | | )

2) "Just Give Me Jesus. Just Give Me Jesus. That was an awesome song, wasn't it? There were all awesome songs. So good to have you here today, and I greet you. And yeah, we've had pretty decent crowds both services today. I was just a little concerned first service I figured it might be down and then second service be bigger because people forget to set their clocks up." [53:06]( | | )

3) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that's a lot of love. That's a lot of love. And Paul talking about that says, 'He who spared not his own son, watch how much he loves you, he who spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?' In other words, he said if I give you my son, there's nothing else that I won't give you. Everything else is small potatoes, amen." [01:13:29]( | | )

4) "I have loved you even as the father has loved me. Now listen to what he says, 'Remain in my love.' Everybody say 'remain in my love.' And then he's going to tell you how you do that. 'When you obey my Commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my father's Commandments and I remain in his love.' I have told you these things so that you'll be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow." [01:18:29]( | | )

5) "God is not condemning you, that God is not angry with you, that God's not out to get you. Come on, how many know if he was out to get you, you'd already be got. Yeah, and God is not against you, no, he's actually for you, isn't that right? For God so loved the world. Nothing proves the greatness of God's love for us more than the cross." [01:03:07]( | | )

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Transcript
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