Freedom in Christ: The Journey of Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: The Good Shepherd Knows Us by Name

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls each of us by name and leads us out of our comfort zones. He knows us intimately, just as He knows the Father, and this deep relationship is the foundation of our trust in Him. We are called to follow His voice and not be swayed by the voices of the world. This personal calling is not just a general invitation but a specific, individual call to each one of us. Jesus' knowledge of us is profound and complete, and it is this intimate understanding that allows Him to guide us perfectly. [16:34]

John 10:3-4 (ESV): "To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt God calling you personally. How did you respond, and how can you be more attentive to His voice in your daily life?

Day 2: Imagination in Our Spiritual Life

David's use of imagination in Psalm 23 to describe God as a shepherd shows us that it is not only permissible but essential to use our imagination to understand and relate to God. This helps us to see God in new and profound ways, making our relationship with Him more personal and dynamic. Imagination allows us to explore the depths of God's character and His care for us, moving beyond mere intellectual understanding to a heartfelt connection. By engaging our imagination, we can experience God's presence in our lives more vividly and meaningfully. [23:35]

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."

Reflection: How can you use your imagination to deepen your relationship with God today? Try to visualize a specific aspect of God's character and meditate on it.

Day 3: Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

God leads us through our deepest fears, not to leave us there but to make us fearless. This journey is crucial for our spiritual growth, as it helps us to confront and overcome the shadows that hold us back. The Good Shepherd is with us every step of the way, protecting and guiding us. Walking through the valley of the shadow of death is not about avoiding fear but about facing it with the confidence that God is with us. This process transforms us, making us stronger and more resilient in our faith. [29:21]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Identify a fear or challenge you are currently facing. How can you trust God to lead you through it and transform your fear into faith?

Day 4: Loving Our Enemies

The ultimate goal of our journey with the Good Shepherd is to sit at a table prepared in the presence of our enemies. This symbolizes the call to love and forgive those who have wronged us, which is the true mark of spiritual maturity and the way to win hearts for the Kingdom of God. Loving our enemies is not just about tolerance but about actively seeking their good and showing them the love of Christ. This radical love breaks down barriers and opens the door for reconciliation and healing. [34:03]

Matthew 5:44-45 (ESV): "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 5: Transformation Through Unconditional Love

The story of the hostile man who eventually found purpose in helping abused children illustrates the power of unconditional love. God can transform even the most resistant hearts through persistent love and patience, showing us that no one is beyond His reach. This transformation is not achieved through force or coercion but through genuine, unconditional love that reflects the heart of God. By loving others unconditionally, we become instruments of God's grace and agents of change in the world. [46:30]

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: Reflect on someone in your life who seems resistant to God's love. How can you show them unconditional love and patience, trusting God to work in their heart?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truth that there is no sound louder than a captive set free. This theme was beautifully illustrated through the story of Tyler's baptism and the journey of a man who was once deeply hostile towards God. The essence of our discussion centered on John 10, where Jesus is depicted as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep by name and leads them out of the fold. This imagery emphasizes that Jesus calls us individually and leads us into the world, not to stay within the comfort of our community but to engage with those who are lost and broken.

We delved into Psalm 23, where David uses his imagination to describe God as a shepherd who guides, feeds, and protects. This Psalm is not just for funerals but is a vibrant depiction of living under God's care. David's meditation reveals that God leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, not to leave us there but to make us fearless and capable of loving even our enemies. This journey through our deepest fears is essential for spiritual growth and transformation.

The story of the man I met, who was initially hostile and violent, serves as a powerful example of how God can transform even the most hardened hearts. Despite his initial rejection and anger, God pursued him through love and patience, leading him to a place where he could envision helping abused children. This transformation was not through religious language but through genuine, unconditional love.

In our walk with God, we are called to use our imagination to understand His nature and to communicate His love in ways that resonate with those who do not yet know Him. The Good Shepherd leads us out of our comfort zones, through our fears, and into the lives of those who need His love the most. This is the essence of our mission as followers of Christ.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Good Shepherd Knows Us by Name: Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls each of us by name and leads us out of our comfort zones. He knows us intimately, just as He knows the Father, and this deep relationship is the foundation of our trust in Him. We are called to follow His voice and not be swayed by the voices of the world. [16:34]
2. Imagination in Our Spiritual Life: David's use of imagination in Psalm 23 to describe God as a shepherd shows us that it is not only permissible but essential to use our imagination to understand and relate to God. This helps us to see God in new and profound ways, making our relationship with Him more personal and dynamic. [23:35]
3. Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death: God leads us through our deepest fears, not to leave us there but to make us fearless. This journey is crucial for our spiritual growth, as it helps us to confront and overcome the shadows that hold us back. The Good Shepherd is with us every step of the way, protecting and guiding us. [29:21]
4. Loving Our Enemies: The ultimate goal of our journey with the Good Shepherd is to sit at a table prepared in the presence of our enemies. This symbolizes the call to love and forgive those who have wronged us, which is the true mark of spiritual maturity and the way to win hearts for the Kingdom of God. [34:03]
5. Transformation Through Unconditional Love: The story of the hostile man who eventually found purpose in helping abused children illustrates the power of unconditional love. God can transform even the most resistant hearts through persistent love and patience, showing us that no one is beyond His reach. [46:30]
### [46:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:59] - Introduction and Tyler's Baptism
[15:49] - The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
[16:34] - John 10: The Good Shepherd
[17:13] - Jesus Calls Us by Name
[17:54] - Following the Shepherd's Voice
[18:46] - The Depth of Jesus' Knowledge of Us
[19:41] - Gathering Together and Going Out
[20:30] - Communicating with the World
[21:12] - Jesus' Unique Approach to Each Person
[21:43] - Old Testament Imagery of the Shepherd
[22:26] - Psalm 23: The Lord is My Shepherd
[23:35] - Using Imagination in Our Spiritual Life
[24:28] - The Purpose of Imagination
[25:01] - Perfect Peace Through Trust in God
[25:26] - Imagining God in Our Lives
[26:19] - David's Meditation on God as Shepherd
[27:17] - The Shepherd's Care and Guidance
[27:50] - Restoring and Refreshing Our Souls
[29:21] - Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
[30:43] - Becoming Fearless
[32:21] - Preparing a Table in the Presence of Enemies
[34:03] - Loving and Forgiving Our Enemies
[35:15] - The Journey of Transformation
[36:48] - Meeting the Hostile Man
[38:05] - The Man's Hostility and Transformation
[40:55] - Developing a Relationship with the Man
[42:22] - Inviting the Man on a Trip
[43:53] - The Man's Dream and Transformation
[45:09] - Working with Abused Children
[46:30] - Engaging with Unconditional Love
[47:56] - The Man's Growth and Encouragement
[49:22] - Personal Valley of the Shadow of Death
[50:51] - Forgiving Our Enemies
[51:30] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to John 10, how does Jesus describe His relationship with His sheep? What actions does He take as the Good Shepherd? ([16:34])
In Psalm 23, what are the different ways David describes God's care and guidance as a shepherd?
What transformation did the hostile man experience, and what role did unconditional love play in this change? ([46:30])
How does the imagery of walking through the valley of the shadow of death in Psalm 23 relate to the journey of spiritual growth and overcoming fears? ([29:21])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for Jesus to know His sheep by name, and how does this personal relationship impact our trust in Him? ([17:13])
How can using our imagination, as David did in Psalm 23, help us to understand and relate to God in a more personal and dynamic way? ([23:35])
Why is it significant that God leads us through the valley of the shadow of death rather than leaving us there? How does this process contribute to our spiritual growth? ([29:21])
What does it mean to prepare a table in the presence of our enemies, and how does this symbolize the call to love and forgive those who have wronged us? ([34:03])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt Jesus calling you by name. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([17:13])
How can you use your imagination to deepen your relationship with God this week? Consider a specific aspect of God's character to meditate on, like David did in Psalm 23. ([23:35])
Identify a fear or challenge you are currently facing. How can you trust God to lead you through this "valley of the shadow of death"? ([29:21])
Think of someone who has wronged you or whom you consider an enemy. What steps can you take to prepare a "table" of reconciliation and forgiveness with them? ([34:03])
How can you show unconditional love to someone who is difficult to love, similar to the story of the hostile man? What practical actions can you take this week? ([46:30])
In what ways can you step out of your comfort zone to engage with those who are lost and broken, as the Good Shepherd leads us to do? ([19:41])
How can you support and encourage someone in your life who is going through a difficult transformation process, similar to the man in the sermon? ([47:56])

Sermon Clips

1. "Even when we're not paying attention. Even when we're, like, running away. He's still there. So, passage in John was heavy on my mind. John 10. It's my favorite. One of my favorite chapters in the Bible. John 10. So, I'm going to read it to you here. Jesus speaking. But he who enters by the door is the good shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the door for his good shepherd, this good shepherd. And the sheep listen to his voice and heed it. And he calls. He calls his own sheep by name. And he leads them out." [16:34] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So, if we open the back doors there and let Jesus walk in. He would come in here. And he would call all of you by the name that he has for each one of you. Each individually. He would call you and talk with you. And then he would lead us. And then he would lead us all out. He wouldn't let us stay in here. He doesn't like the sheep to stay in a fold. We like the fold. I like the fold. I like being with other sheep that think exactly like I do. But the good shepherd doesn't let us stay in the fold. He leads us out." [17:13] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So, we'll follow the shepherd out because we can hear his voice and recognize his voice. And we're not afraid out there of being deceived or getting lost or anything because we don't recognize any other voices except his voice. Like, that's the voice we hear in every situation that we're in. No other voices. Not the voice of the world. Not the voice of anxiety. None of those. We only hear his voice because he's the only one that calls us by name." [17:54] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Hebrew says it, don't neglect the gathering together of the saints or the sheep to incite one another to love and good deeds. That's what we're doing in here. We're getting excited about what God is doing, what he's doing, what he's doing in me, what he's doing in you. And then we're all going to go out there. That's the goal. Not to let it all end right here and we'll see you next week right here. But to go out. Because there's other sheep out there that are scattered. And, Jesus. He wants them all into one flock with one shepherd. That's exciting, I think." [19:41] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So, what do we do? If there's other sheep out there that don't speak the same language that we speak in here, we've got to learn other ways to talk about it out there. Can't just repeat things over and over the same thing to everybody. That doesn't make any sense. Jesus never talks to people the same way. Ever. Ever. Watch him in the Gospels. He never talks. He doesn't talk to a Samaritan woman like he talks to a Roman, like he talks to a Gentile. They're all different. Because they're different people with different identities." [21:12] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "To image forth the unseen true. All humans have this beautiful gift of imagination. To invent and create and write. And to think of new ways to do things. That's what the imagination is for. It's like. Hmm. This doesn't work. Let's try and think of something that doesn't exist yet that will work better than what we're doing. There's the imagination. That's what it's for. Isaiah says. He has kept in perfect peace whose mind and imagination are fixed on God. Because they trust in God. So if you're going to imagine something. Try and imagine God. What a great pursuit." [25:01] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "He refreshes and restores my life. He leads me in paths of righteousness, in right standing with him, not because I earned it. Shepherds don't do things because the sheep earned it. The sheep is not, will you lead me? And the shepherd's like, how many quiet times have you had? No, no. He's a shepherd. He leads. You follow. He refreshes and restores my life. He leads me in paths of righteousness, in right standing with him, not because I earned it, but for his namesake. Shepherd. That's what he does. Why do you think he's mad at you? Or disappointed in you? He's a shepherd." [27:50] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the deep sunless valley of the shadow of my deepest fears, that I'm inadequate, that I'm a disappointment. All those fears. These fears are not real. They're not real. They're not real. They're not real. These fears are worse than the thought I'm going to die one day. They're worse than that. I'm going to live as a failure. I'm going to live rejected. I'm going to live falling short of everything I ever wished happened in my life. That's the shadow of death. The shepherd walks you through it." [30:43] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And then he concludes, if this is right, if this is true, if the good shepherd calms me down, helps me to understand who I am, helps me to learn to hear his voice. Ready? Got it? You ready? Here we go. Straight into your deepest fears. Let's go. I will take you through your fear, and you will become fearless. And when you are fearless, then you can sit down with your enemies because you're not afraid anymore, because you went through the valley of shadow of death. And there they are. They're sitting there. They're waiting for you to sit down with them. And I will anoint you there." [34:03] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "And so, and, and I want to tell you about him. So I texted him at five o'clock this morning and he did, he texted me back in the beginning of the first service. Hilarious. So here's how I met this guy. I was, I met him actually at about the time I met Derek and Kate. We were in Texas and I was speaking at this church and three services church. And in between the first and second service, this guy comes up to me and says, Hey, I, there's a guy that wants to meet you. Would you be willing to meet with him? I'm like, yeah, bring him up here." [36:48] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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