Glorifying God: Our Purpose and Spiritual Nourishment
Summary
In our time together, we explored the profound truth that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is the supreme purpose of life, transcending the superficial offerings of the world. We are created in the image of God, designed to reflect His glory and to find our deepest joy in Him. However, the tragedy of sin has marred this image, leading us to seek fulfillment in things that ultimately lead us away from God. Yet, the gospel offers hope and restoration through Jesus Christ, who stands in our place, offering justification and righteousness by faith alone.
We delved into the concept of God as our ultimate supply, emphasizing that a lack of God-centeredness is a fundamental problem that cannot be remedied by human efforts. Instead, it is through God's grace and the gospel that we find the supply for our minds. We discussed the importance of Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit as essential supplies for cultivating a disciplined mind that honors God. Scripture serves as the authoritative guide for our thoughts, prayer as the expression of our dependence on God, and the Holy Spirit as the power that enables us to live out our faith.
We also examined the necessity of consuming God's Word as spiritual nourishment, warning against the dangers of filling our minds with the "junk food" of the world. Just as our bodies require healthy food to thrive, our souls need the sustenance of Scripture to grow in strength and maturity. We are encouraged to read the Bible regularly, reverently, and with the intent to be influenced by its truths.
Furthermore, we explored the role of prayer in aligning our minds with God's will, urging us to pray for understanding, obedience, and unity of thought. Prayer is a vital means of expressing our hearts to God and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life.
Finally, we highlighted the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, who applies the work of redemption to our lives, enabling us to grow in sanctification. By abiding in Christ and obeying His commands, we remain connected to the source of life and bear fruit that glorifies God.
Key Takeaways:
- Our ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, transcending the superficial offerings of the world. We are created in God's image to reflect His glory, but sin has marred this image. The gospel offers hope and restoration through Jesus Christ, who provides justification and righteousness by faith alone. [11:10]
- God is our ultimate supply, and a lack of God-centeredness is a fundamental problem that cannot be remedied by human efforts. Through God's grace and the gospel, we find the supply for our minds. Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit are essential for cultivating a disciplined mind that honors God. [18:12]
- Consuming God's Word is vital for spiritual nourishment, just as healthy food is necessary for physical well-being. We must avoid filling our minds with the "junk food" of the world and instead read the Bible regularly, reverently, and with the intent to be influenced by its truths. [32:05]
- Prayer aligns our minds with God's will, and we are encouraged to pray for understanding, obedience, and unity of thought. Prayer is a means of expressing our hearts to God and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life. [52:06]
- The Holy Spirit applies the work of redemption to our lives, enabling us to grow in sanctification. By abiding in Christ and obeying His commands, we remain connected to the source of life and bear fruit that glorifies God. [01:02:12]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [11:10] - The Glory of the Gospel
- [12:09] - Justification Through Christ
- [15:43] - Faith and Trust in God
- [17:13] - The Act of Faith
- [18:12] - God as Our Supply
- [19:26] - The Role of Scripture
- [20:30] - Authority of God's Word
- [22:09] - Mind of Christ
- [23:43] - Example of Christ
- [24:37] - Temptation and Scripture
- [27:14] - Setting Your Mind on God
- [28:42] - Revelation and Scripture
- [29:43] - The Necessity of God's Word
- [32:05] - Spiritual Nourishment
- [33:51] - Avoiding Spiritual Junk Food
- [34:57] - Acquiring a Taste for Scripture
- [36:40] - Influence of Scripture
- [37:14] - Delight in God's Word
- [38:33] - Daily Nourishment
- [39:33] - Consistent Engagement with Scripture
- [40:12] - Regular Spiritual Cleansing
- [40:56] - Exposure to God's Word
- [42:11] - Influence of Scripture
- [42:56] - Prayer and the Mind
- [43:34] - Prayer as Influence
- [44:42] - Influence of Scripture on Thinking
- [45:28] - Transformation Through Scripture
- [46:34] - Exposure to God's Influence
- [52:06] - Prayer for the Mind
- [52:37] - Expressing the Mind to God
- [53:39] - Power of Prayer
- [54:46] - Crying Out to God
- [55:54] - Unity of Thought
- [57:01] - Inclination of the Heart
- [58:26] - Spirit of Power
- [59:40] - The Spirit's Role in Sanctification
- [01:00:54] - Power of the Spirit
- [01:02:12] - Justification and Sanctification
- [01:04:41] - Sowing and Reaping
- [01:06:03] - Abiding and Obeying
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Peter 1:3
2. Colossians 2:8
3. 1 Corinthians 2:16
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate purpose of life, and how does it transcend the superficial offerings of the world? [11:10]
2. What are the three essential supplies mentioned in the sermon for cultivating a disciplined mind that honors God? [19:26]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Scripture in shaping our thoughts and minds? [20:30]
4. What analogy does the pastor use to explain the importance of faith in Christ, and how does it relate to our spiritual journey? [17:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God as our ultimate supply challenge the idea of self-sufficiency in our spiritual lives? [18:12]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that consuming "junk food" of the world can impact our spiritual health and growth? [33:51]
3. How does the sermon explain the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification? [01:02:12]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between prayer and aligning our minds with God's will? [52:06]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate regular and reverent reading of Scripture to ensure it becomes a source of spiritual nourishment for you? [38:33]
2. Identify one area in your life where you might be relying on self-sufficiency rather than seeing God as your ultimate supply. What steps can you take to shift your focus? [18:12]
3. Consider the types of "junk food" you might be consuming in your life. What practical changes can you make to reduce these distractions and focus more on spiritual nourishment? [33:51]
4. How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily life to express your dependence on God and seek His guidance? [52:06]
5. Think about a recent situation where you struggled to align your thoughts with God's will. How can you use prayer and Scripture to address similar challenges in the future? [55:54]
6. Reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more intentional about abiding in Christ and obeying His commands to experience spiritual growth? [01:02:12]
7. Identify a specific way you can apply the principle of sowing and reaping in your thought life. What positive "seeds" can you plant this week to cultivate a God-centered mindset? [01:04:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Glorifying God and Enjoying Him Forever
Our ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This transcends the superficial offerings of the world and is rooted in our creation in God's image. Sin has marred this image, leading us to seek fulfillment in things that ultimately lead us away from God. However, the gospel offers hope and restoration through Jesus Christ, who provides justification and righteousness by faith alone. By embracing this truth, we align ourselves with our true purpose and find the deepest joy in our relationship with God. [11:10]
Isaiah 43:7 (ESV): "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally glorify God in your daily routine today, and how can you find joy in that action?
Day 2: God as Our Ultimate Supply
God is our ultimate supply, and a lack of God-centeredness is a fundamental problem that cannot be remedied by human efforts. Through God's grace and the gospel, we find the supply for our minds. Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit are essential for cultivating a disciplined mind that honors God. Scripture serves as the authoritative guide for our thoughts, prayer as the expression of our dependence on God, and the Holy Spirit as the power that enables us to live out our faith. By relying on these divine resources, we can overcome the distractions of the world and focus on what truly matters. [18:12]
2 Peter 1:3 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel spiritually depleted. How can you seek God's supply through Scripture, prayer, or the Holy Spirit today?
Day 3: Spiritual Nourishment Through God's Word
Consuming God's Word is vital for spiritual nourishment, just as healthy food is necessary for physical well-being. We must avoid filling our minds with the "junk food" of the world and instead read the Bible regularly, reverently, and with the intent to be influenced by its truths. Just as our bodies require healthy food to thrive, our souls need the sustenance of Scripture to grow in strength and maturity. By prioritizing the intake of God's Word, we can develop a robust spiritual life that withstands the challenges of the world. [32:05]
Jeremiah 15:16 (ESV): "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts."
Reflection: What "junk food" of the world are you consuming that distracts you from God's Word? How can you replace it with spiritual nourishment today?
Day 4: Aligning Our Minds with God's Will Through Prayer
Prayer aligns our minds with God's will, and we are encouraged to pray for understanding, obedience, and unity of thought. Prayer is a means of expressing our hearts to God and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life. By engaging in regular and sincere prayer, we open ourselves to God's transformative work in our lives, allowing Him to shape our thoughts and actions according to His purposes. This alignment with God's will leads to a more fulfilling and purposeful life. [52:06]
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to align with God's will through prayer today? How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit applies the work of redemption to our lives, enabling us to grow in sanctification. By abiding in Christ and obeying His commands, we remain connected to the source of life and bear fruit that glorifies God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out our faith, transforming us from the inside out and equipping us to fulfill our God-given purpose. As we yield to the Spirit's leading, we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us. [01:02:12]
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's transformative power? How can you invite the Spirit to work in you today to bear fruit that glorifies God?
Quotes
"Glorify him and to enjoy him forever this is your purpose this is why you exist and it is the supreme supreme purpose of life you were made for so much more than this world has to offer you were made for so much more than appearances and things accomplished you were made to know to glorify to enjoy you were made to know and it's the highest my prayers has been through this weekend a handful how we start a little per situation who we are a little awesome sign which really use the mind the inner person looked at that we are bumped by the fault that in our mind we thought about the Lord our God how we are and then we look down for the viewer in Christ if you are in Christ you are a new creation you're a new creation new mind we're going to look at stewardship and then we consider some strategy tonight I want to look at supply I want to understand how can we steward and how can we use the strategies we've looked at how can we indeed grow in this what are the supplies needed, let me just make this plain, God is your supply the fundamental problem we have is a lack of God -centeredness in our mind and there is no man -made cure to the lack of God -centeredness you hear me, does that make sense do you understand what I'm saying if God -centeredness is what we lack understand this we can't fix that because if we try it's going to be centered on us man man -made solutions to really problems concerning God and I thought to myself about tonight I want to get to the main supply but I thought I would just remind us of what we're talking about when we talk about God being the supply you can't do this this is not just a matter of mere intellectual methodology this is strictly this is this is supremely a gift of grace this is something of God's grace to you in Christ this is something of what we just sang about it has everything to do with the cross and I thought we could just think about that for a moment and let the gospel pour over and remind us about the supply for your mind here's here's a way to look at the gospel that maybe you haven't looked at before here's a way to look at the gospel God is all that there is He's completely self -sufficient and He's noble He has personality and He has community and He has love all within Himself and triune glory He's nothing He decides to create out of the overflow of His own glory out of the overflow of His own goodness and why does He desire to create? He desires to create because He actually wants the joy of delighting in the work of His hands and when He creates in the work of His hands as it were He wants to look upon it and He wants to find glory in it reflecting back He delights then to give Himself for the sake of the good of what He creates that pleases Him just like a parent is pleased to give to his child so God creates He creates all things and they're beautiful over and over the chorus says God spoke it stood fast He saw and it was good over and over and over and over and supremely the most important creation of God is sitting before Him it is the only creature remaining He and what are important things that we do but to image the thing that it describes it is to reflect it is to image just like a printed picture is an image of something real the printed picture gives you the impression the image of the real thing we are made in the image of God to image God to reflect Him to shine back glory to Him here's how the gospel works into this God can create very good it's all very good and He gives you the most important creature of all He gives you a mind to think thoughts after Him like Him honoring Him praising Him being amazed at His majesty marveling at His glory His wisdom finding your humor based on the things that He delights in He gave you laughter He gave you humor He gave you peace all of your emotions pointed to bring glory praise to God you were created and placed into an environment that was designed to please you that all the trees in the garden were pleasant to the eye and good food God did all of these things everything was good and He created this mind" [00:01:25]
"to write letters and communicate and to be able to think what they should be looking at and when they look at something to process that and praise God for beautiful scenes they were given bells to be controlled by the mind so they could sing praise to God so they could speak words of blessings so they could encourage they were given hands to remind and tell their hands to do work and to bless and to hold gently and to help and to serve He gave you all of these things the mouth the eyes the hands He gave you all of this so that the mind could bring glory to God through these instruments and what happened God created it was all very good and He created this amazing gift in us but instead of using it to image God we actually turned away and sought to image ourselves" [00:07:25]
"because it's all controlled by the mind we use everything now naturally we use it against God we do not use the mind to love things God loves we use the mind actually to love and sometimes hide our love for the things that God hates and this is a great tragedy so God created all things very good but then this great tragedy comes in and it's corruption through through we are corrupted if God left us there we wouldn't be here there would be no reason for me to be here no reason for any leader to be here there would be no reason for us to read our Bibles we would be hopeless it would be over there's no hope we are left with that corruption but here is the glory of the gospel the gospel is if you if you take and understand the depth of what we're talking about God created all majesty for his glory and the mind is the center of people and the mind the doing these things against God is the issue of sin the Bible leads us there by sending Christ to stand in our place it is like a cold liminalogy where if you die tonight and you die you went before the judge in eternity and there was a megatron and all all of the activity of your mind every thought you've ever thought was displayed as evidence against you evidence to say you do not love God so much" [00:09:22]
"And if you don't understand yet, that mark is the marker of faith. The faith that takes the step into a realm that God will declare you right. It's as though he literally looks upon Christ in your guilt and says, guilty, and condemns you. But then looks upon you in Christ and says, perfect. You're just. You're righteous. You are fully and completely and totally accepted. Come, my son. Come on. Yeah. That's justification through the substitution of Christ with God. And that justification, listen, is yours by faith alone. By faith alone. There's nothing you can do to contribute to that. It's entirely and freely given by the work of God in Christ, applied through the Spirit, you receive by faith alone. And that faith looks something like this. You've heard me tell this before. That's why I just love it. I love this." [00:15:43]
"should only be one authority in this universe to tell you how to think. That authority is God. And the only way you know what God is telling you how to think is what is written in the sacred Scripture. It should be the Word of God written that tells you how to think. Are you with me? You understand what I'm saying? You know where I'm coming from? There's no other source that has the authority to tell you how to think. Scripture must begin this whole idea of the supply. It is the first thing. So now, it is an arresting thought for me to think about allowing my mind to be conditioned and shaped and trained by something else. I want to be super careful that that something else is right and has the authority of God. This is where Scripture comes in. Listen to these two verses. This is very important for us to understand what I'm trying to say with the Scriptures. Colossians 2 .8 And this is my appeal to all of you. Listen, you are going to be tempted to give your mind to maybe philosophers, maybe psychologists, maybe books that have been written, maybe YouTubers, maybe influencers, maybe professors. You're going to give your mind to other people, to other ideologies." [00:20:51]
"Colossians 2 .8 Colossians 2 .8 That no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. And then 1 Corinthians tells us something about Christ in this mind idea. 1 Corinthians 2 .16 For who has understood the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct him? And it's a wonderful passage about dealing with the spirit and the mind and the spirit in a man, those mind of man and so forth. And it says, so who has known and who has instructed the Lord? And his answer is, no one, no one, but we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2 .16 We have the mind of Christ. So do not give your mind, do not be taken captive by philosophies, and by deceit, and the ways of the world, and all of its ideologies, and not according to Christ. Instead, according to Christ, we have the mind of Christ." [00:22:10]
"Receive the scriptures as revelation. That's what I mean. To think Christlike is to think in terms of Christ's word. We follow this example. We follow this example. To think Christlike means to think in terms. In terms of Christ's word. God has chosen to reveal his mind to us in the scripture. He's chosen to reveal his mind. What he wants us to see of his mind. James 1 .21 says, Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word. So it's a good off and good on. And the main supply is the supply of the written word. James says this is the vital supply. So we need to receive it. We need to read it receptively. Read it as though we are receiving it. Like we are believing it. Like we're getting in the wheelbarrow. Like we are understanding. This is not mere reason of men. This is not reason of men. This is revelation of God." [00:28:42]
"In Job chapter 23 verse 12. I used to read this all the time. Because it just exploded in my mind. How important it is. That Job tries out and says. Your word is more necessary. Than my necessary food. That's a literal translation. Your word is more necessary. Than my necessary food. And he's contrasting body and soul right there. And he's saying. My body needs food every day to survive. I feed on food in order to survive. And he's saying. I know. I recognize. That this bag of bones. Is going to go back to the dust. And it's not nearly as valuable as my soul. I need the food from heaven. Given from God. I need the word of God. More than I need. My necessary food." [00:32:25]
"You're not going to be a strong Christian. You will not grow. You will get frustrated. If you're in Christ, you're going to want to and you won't be able to. You'll be a couch potato soul. Right? You're not eating right. You're not exercising right. You're not if you don't have the right diet. If you're constantly eating sugar, that's all this is, right? The dopamine saturated forms of entertainment and digital stimuli. It's just sugar to the feelings of the inside. So no wonder you can't sit down and read scripture and expect the wonders and beauties and the glories and the joys and it caused you to sing and praise and jump off your chair and be excited for something you've read. No, wonder." [00:34:57]
"first one, so we're just going to look at the second. Prayer for the discipline of the mind as your supply. Here's the idea. Scripture is replete. It's constantly telling us to pray for the mind. It's constantly. Now let's put these two together. The word as a supply and prayer as a supply. Here's how it works. The word impresses the mind. And the prayer expresses the mind. The word, God speaks to us. Prayer we speak to God. It's kind of like inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. You know, you gotta exhale. You don't just, you don't walk around breathing like this. You gotta exhale. So take it in and breathe it out. He didn't put the supply above you. He says, come to me, my child. Speak to me, my child. You're going to have lots of trouble in this life. You're going to have your mind troubled." [00:51:39]
"So, you have the supply. Yes. And that power of God in you must be stewarded. Don't think it just falls on your lap and suddenly all the past habits and all that ever influences God. It's not how it works. It's that the power is there, but it's kind of like the wall of power is there. But are you even plugging in? You can boast of a lot of power, but you're not going to plug in. Or you plug in and you never turn it too long. You don't get the work done. Have you ever seen a construction guy? You know, we have batteries today. I know. So, let's say you've got the nice little walkie -talkie with 22 volts of power. Literally lying on it. And you're sitting there. But the guy takes the battery off. And he's now cutting with no power. You look at him and say, what's wrong with you? That's how some Christians try to do this." [01:00:00]
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