Experiencing God's Transformative Presence Through Worship
Summary
In our time together, we explored the profound truth of God's presence in our lives, especially when we worship. God's presence is not just to make us feel good but to minister to us deeply, transforming our lives through His love and grace. When we worship, God establishes His throne among us, ruling and reigning, and meeting us at our point of need. This is a continuation of our journey into understanding what it means to be secure in the Father's love. We are reminded that our new standing before God is as His children, born again with a new life, a life that reflects His divine nature. This transformation is made possible because we have been justified by faith, declared righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Being secure in the Father's love means understanding that our righteousness is a permanent state, a gift from God that cannot be taken away. This assurance allows us to live confidently, knowing that we are in the Father's care. Despite life's challenges, fears, and worries, nothing can separate us from God's love. This truth is beautifully captured in Romans 8:38-39, which assures us that no power, no circumstance, can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
We are on a journey of sanctification, growing and maturing in our faith, being conformed to the image of Christ. This process involves daily striving, learning, and adjusting our lives according to the light we receive from God. Even when we falter, God is forming us into the likeness of His Son. Our ultimate purpose is to be conformed to Christ's image, fulfilling God's plan for our lives and the world.
God's nearness is a comforting truth. He promises never to leave or forsake us, even in our darkest moments. We are encouraged to draw near to God, ensuring that we do not distance ourselves through worldly distractions. By drawing near, we invite His touch, His presence, and His guidance in our lives. This closeness with God is essential for experiencing the fullness of His love and being secure in it.
Key Takeaways:
- God's presence in worship is not just for comfort but for transformation. When we worship, God establishes His throne among us, ministering to our needs and transforming our lives through His love and grace. This divine presence is a reminder of our new standing as children of God, born again with His divine nature. [01:41]
- Our righteousness is a permanent state, a gift from God through Jesus Christ. This assurance allows us to live confidently, knowing that we are in the Father's care. Despite life's challenges, nothing can separate us from God's love, as affirmed in Romans 8:38-39. [10:42]
- The journey of sanctification involves daily striving, learning, and adjusting our lives according to God's light. Even when we falter, God is forming us into the likeness of His Son, fulfilling our ultimate purpose to be conformed to Christ's image. [07:40]
- God's nearness is a comforting truth. He promises never to leave or forsake us, even in our darkest moments. We are encouraged to draw near to God, ensuring that we do not distance ourselves through worldly distractions. [21:34]
- By drawing near to God, we invite His touch, presence, and guidance in our lives. This closeness is essential for experiencing the fullness of His love and being secure in it. We must constantly check our lives to ensure we remain close to Him. [37:25]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:41] - Secure in the Father's Love
[04:41] - Justified by Faith
[06:29] - The Journey of Sanctification
[07:40] - Conformed to Christ's Image
[09:24] - Assurance of God's Love
[10:42] - Nothing Can Separate Us
[12:23] - God's Promise of Presence
[15:14] - God Will Never Abandon You
[16:57] - Holding on to God's Promises
[21:34] - God's Omnipresence
[22:29] - Facing Challenges with God
[25:03] - Footprints in the Sand
[28:21] - Is the Lord Close to You?
[30:03] - Drawing Near to God
[36:45] - Avoiding Worldly Distractions
[37:25] - Inviting God's Touch
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 8:38-39
2. Hebrews 13:5
3. Psalm 139:7-10
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the purpose of God's presence when we worship? [01:41]
2. How does the sermon describe our new standing before God as His children? [04:41]
3. What does the sermon say about the permanence of our righteousness through Jesus Christ? [05:38]
4. How does the sermon explain the process of sanctification in a believer's life? [06:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In Romans 8:38-39, Paul lists several things that cannot separate us from God's love. How does this assurance impact a believer's daily life and challenges? [10:42]
2. Hebrews 13:5 emphasizes God's promise never to leave or forsake us. How might this promise influence a believer's perspective on material possessions and contentment? [15:14]
3. Psalm 139:7-10 speaks of God's omnipresence. How does understanding God's constant presence affect a believer's sense of security and purpose? [21:34]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of drawing near to God. What practical steps can believers take to ensure they are not distancing themselves from God? [29:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps did you take, or could you take, to draw near to Him again? [29:15]
2. How can the assurance of God's unchanging love in Romans 8:38-39 help you face a current challenge or fear in your life? [10:42]
3. Hebrews 13:5 encourages contentment with what we have. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with contentment. What changes can you make to align with this teaching? [15:14]
4. The sermon emphasizes the journey of sanctification. What is one specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to grow or change? [06:29]
5. Consider the distractions in your life that might be distancing you from God. What is one practical step you can take this week to minimize these distractions? [30:03]
6. How can you remind yourself of God's presence in your daily routine, especially during difficult times? [23:26]
7. The sermon speaks about being secure in the Father's love. What does being secure in God's love mean to you personally, and how can you live out this truth in your relationships with others? [08:36]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Transformative Presence in Worship
When we gather in worship, we are not merely seeking comfort but inviting a profound transformation through God's presence. Worship is a sacred time when God establishes His throne among us, ministering to our deepest needs and transforming our lives with His love and grace. This divine presence is a powerful reminder of our new identity as children of God, born again with His divine nature. As we worship, we are drawn closer to God, experiencing His love in a way that reshapes our hearts and minds. This transformation is not just a momentary feeling but a lasting change that aligns us more closely with God's will and purpose for our lives. [01:41]
Psalm 22:3-4 (ESV): "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them."
Reflection: How can you intentionally create space in your daily life to invite God's transformative presence, not just during worship but throughout your day?
Day 2: The Assurance of Permanent Righteousness
Understanding that our righteousness is a permanent state, a gift from God through Jesus Christ, allows us to live with confidence and assurance. This righteousness is not something we earn but a gift that cannot be taken away. It assures us that we are always in the Father's care, no matter the challenges we face. Romans 8:38-39 beautifully captures this truth, affirming that nothing can separate us from God's love. This assurance empowers us to face life's difficulties with a steadfast heart, knowing that we are secure in God's love and grace. [10:42]
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself daily of your permanent righteousness in Christ, especially when you face doubts or challenges?
Day 3: The Journey of Sanctification
The journey of sanctification is a lifelong process of growing and maturing in our faith, being conformed to the image of Christ. This journey involves daily striving, learning, and adjusting our lives according to the light we receive from God. Even when we falter, God is at work, forming us into the likeness of His Son. Our ultimate purpose is to be conformed to Christ's image, fulfilling God's plan for our lives and the world. This process requires patience and perseverance, trusting that God is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us. [07:40]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What specific area of your life is God calling you to surrender to Him for transformation, and how can you take a step towards that today?
Day 4: The Comfort of God's Nearness
God's nearness is a comforting truth that assures us He will never leave or forsake us, even in our darkest moments. We are encouraged to draw near to God, ensuring that we do not distance ourselves through worldly distractions. By drawing near, we invite His touch, His presence, and His guidance in our lives. This closeness with God is essential for experiencing the fullness of His love and being secure in it. It is a reminder that we are never alone, and His presence is a constant source of strength and comfort. [21:34]
James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What distractions in your life are keeping you from experiencing the fullness of God's presence, and how can you begin to remove them?
Day 5: Inviting God's Touch and Guidance
By drawing near to God, we invite His touch, presence, and guidance in our lives. This closeness is essential for experiencing the fullness of His love and being secure in it. We must constantly check our lives to ensure we remain close to Him, avoiding the distractions that can distance us from His presence. Inviting God's touch means being open to His leading and allowing Him to shape our lives according to His will. It is a daily commitment to seek His guidance and trust in His perfect plan for our lives. [37:25]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: How can you actively seek God's guidance in a specific decision or area of your life today, trusting Him to lead you?
Quotes
1) "And that's why God graces us with his wonderful presence when we worship him. For the Bible tells us he made it very clear. It's very clear in the word that when we worship, when we praise him, he establishes his throne in our midst because the Bible says he dwells in the praises of his people. He inhabits the praises of his people. So when we praise God in the spiritual realm in this place, God establishes his throne and the throne is always established to rule and to reign, to issue decrees. And that's what God does. That's what God does when we worship together in spirit and in truth. And when that takes place, I want you to know that's when he ministers to you and meets with you at the point of your need." [01:41] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "You know he is your father. You have this, his life in you, his nature in you. Daily, you are striving to live as God wants you to live. You are not perfect. None of us are. But we are daily striving. We are living our lives. We are learning. We are growing. We are maturing. Those are all the words that are used to describe the course of life you and I live when we walk with God. We are maturing every day. We get new revelation. We have new understanding. New light is given to us. And we adjust our life according to the light we receive. You adjust your life. And that is the process of what maybe people will call sanctification." [06:29] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "So if you thought you were a Christian so that you could have more money. Have a nice car, a nice house. Then I want you to know you are mistaken. You are mistaken. The reason you are a child of God. Is that eventually you will be conformed to the image of Christ. And when that happens you are fulfilling the purpose of God for your life. Upon the face of this earth. And you are fitting into the plan of God that he has for this whole world. That's where we are." [08:36] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Nothing can ever separate us from God's love. That's why you are secure in the Father's love. Nothing can separate us from God's love. It says neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow. How many of you can find yourself in that phrase? Our fears for today nor our worries for tomorrow. And so many of us sometimes experience that fear and worries. Am I right? So he says neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow." [11:30] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "So even if you feel like you're going through hell, he's there. Don't ever forget that. Because you are his son. You are his daughter. He is there. He will not leave you, nor will he forsake you. And so that's why the psalmist makes mention of this. He tries to make mention of everything he can think about with respect to his location. But, he says, everywhere. He says, where can I go from your spirit? Because you will always be there. He says, your hand will lead me. Your right hand will hold me. How many of you are glad for that?" [22:29] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Can somebody say amen? Draw near to God and he will draw near to you so there is something you also have to do to make certain that he is near you all the time am I right in fact in this verse he goes on to say cleanse your hands you you sinners and purify your hearts you double -minded now he is not talking to unbelievers you you , james is not writing to the unbeliever he is writing to the christian to the believer yet he says cleanse your hands you sinners purify your hearts he is speaking to believers so there is something that has gone wrong with believers and he's saying to them draw near to god in other words and he will draw near to you." [30:03] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. In other words, he will touch you. He will touch you. We want his touch. I'm reminded of the woman with the issue of blood. She made a way through all that crowd. And God. To touch the hem of his garment. Because she drew near. And what happened? He touched her. Because virtue flowed out of him. I want to tell you today, if you draw near to God. If he is near, he will touch you. He will touch you. Can somebody say amen? He will touch you. Whatever that touch means for you. And however it's going to work in your life. It will happen. Just. Draw near to him." [37:25] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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