God as Our Champion: Embracing Growth and Empathy

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God as Our Champion

When we face challenges, it's easy to rely on our own strength and understanding. However, the story of David and Goliath reminds us that true victory comes when we let God fight our battles. By declaring God as our champion, we acknowledge that our strength is insufficient and surrender our struggles to Him. This act of faith requires daily surrender and a deep trust in God's power and faithfulness to lead us to victory. As we navigate life's battles, we must continually remind ourselves to step back and let God take the lead, trusting that He knows the best path forward. [34:54]

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV): "Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.'"

Reflection: What is one battle you are currently facing where you need to step back and let God be your champion? How can you actively surrender this battle to Him today?

Day 2: Embracing Growth in Christ

As followers of Christ, we are on a continuous journey of growth. None of us have reached perfection, and there is always room for improvement in our spiritual lives. This journey involves striving to be more like Christ, acknowledging our need for His guidance and transformation. By spending time with God and allowing His Word to shape us, we can grow in love, empathy, and holiness. Recognizing our need for growth is not a sign of weakness but a testament to our desire to become more like Christ each day. [37:36]

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to grow. What steps can you take this week to pursue growth in that area?

Day 3: Abhorring Evil and Clinging to Good

As Christians, we are called to abhor evil and hold fast to what is good. This means being disgusted by sin and striving to sin less each day. By allowing God's Word to convict and transform us, we can develop a deeper understanding of what is good and align our lives with His will. This process requires a commitment to personal holiness and a willingness to let go of sinful habits and attitudes. As we grow in our relationship with God, our desire to abhor evil and cling to good will become more natural and evident in our daily lives. [43:26]

Amos 5:14-15 (ESV): "Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

Reflection: What is one sinful habit or attitude you need to let go of? How can you replace it with something good and pleasing to God?

Day 4: Walking in Empathy

Empathy is a powerful expression of Christ's love. As followers of Christ, we are called to walk in empathy, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. This involves genuine love and compassion, putting ourselves in others' shoes and supporting them in their joys and sorrows. By cultivating empathy, we can build stronger relationships and create a community that reflects the love and character of Christ. Empathy requires us to be present, listen actively, and respond with kindness and understanding. [01:03:31]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is going through a difficult time. How can you show empathy and support them this week?

Day 5: Cultivating a Consistent Prayer Life

A consistent prayer life is essential for maintaining a close connection with God. By praying without ceasing, we can remain grounded in His presence and guidance, even amidst trials and tribulations. Prayer is not just about asking for things but about building a relationship with God, listening to His voice, and aligning our hearts with His will. A consistent prayer life requires intentionality and discipline, but the rewards are immeasurable as we experience God's peace, wisdom, and strength in our daily lives. [01:00:08]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take to make your prayer life more consistent? How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine in a meaningful way?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God is our champion, and we must let Him fight our battles. Reflecting on the story of David and Goliath, we are reminded that when we try to fight in our own strength, we often fail. Instead, we should declare, "God, you are our champion," and trust Him to lead us to victory in every area of our lives. This requires a daily surrender and acknowledgment of our need for God's guidance and strength.

We also delved into the concept of growth, recognizing that none of us have "attained it" and that we all have room for growth. As followers of Christ, we are called to be imitators of God, striving to be more like Him each day. This involves a commitment to sin less, even though we will never be sinless. By spending time with God and allowing His Word to transform us, we can grow in love, empathy, and holiness.

Romans 12 served as our main passage, emphasizing the importance of genuine love, abhorring evil, and holding fast to what is good. We are called to outdo one another in showing honor, live peaceably with all, and be patient in tribulation. Our prayer life should be constant, and we should contribute to the needs of others, showing hospitality and empathy. As Christians, we must walk in empathy, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.

Ultimately, our lives should reflect the love and character of Christ, drawing others to Him. We must acknowledge our need for growth and seek God's help in becoming more like Him. By doing so, we can be a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love and grace.

Key Takeaways

1. God as Our Champion: We must let God fight our battles, acknowledging that our strength is insufficient. By declaring God as our champion, we surrender our struggles to Him, trusting in His power and faithfulness to lead us to victory. [34:54]
2. Room for Growth: As Christians, we must recognize that we have not yet attained perfection and have room for growth. This involves striving to be more like Christ, acknowledging our need for His guidance and transformation in our lives. [37:36]
3. Abhorring Evil: We are called to abhor evil and hold fast to what is good. This means being disgusted by sin and striving to sin less each day, allowing God's Word to convict and transform us. [43:26]
4. Living in Empathy: As followers of Christ, we must walk in empathy, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. This involves genuine love and compassion, putting ourselves in others' shoes and supporting them in their joys and sorrows. [63:31]
5. Consistent Prayer Life: Our prayer life should be constant and consistent, maintaining a close connection with God. By praying without ceasing, we can remain grounded in His presence and guidance, even amidst trials and tribulations. [01:00:08]
** [60:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:54] - God as Our Champion
[35:37] - Trusting in God's Faithfulness
[36:38] - Acknowledging Our Need for God
[37:36] - Room for Growth
[38:39] - Striving to Be Like Christ
[39:18] - Imitating God
[40:56] - Romans 12: Love and Honor
[41:34] - Living Peaceably with All
[43:26] - Abhorring Evil
[45:00] - Measuring Sin
[47:11] - Personal Conviction and Growth
[49:04] - Showing Honor
[50:26] - Empathy and Honor
[51:39] - Living as a True Christian
[52:46] - Zeal and Service
[54:43] - Patience in Tribulation
[56:20] - Personal Testimony
[59:20] - Trials and God's Goodness
[60:08] - Consistent Prayer Life
[62:07] - Meeting Needs and Hospitality
[63:31] - Walking in Empathy
[66:30] - Living in Harmony
[68:55] - Humility and Growth
[72:08] - Living Peaceably
[77:26] - Room to Grow
[78:09] - Becoming More Like Christ
[79:39] - Prayer for Growth
[83:31] - Invitation to Salvation
[84:33] - Confession and Belief
[85:27] - Celebration of New Life
[86:58] - Final Prayer and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

"Some of us are sending out the wrong champion. We're not letting God fight our battle. We're trying to do it on our own strength, we're trying to do it on our own ability and as we're declaring this song what we're saying is it is you God you go before me you fight my battle it is a surrender of ourselves as we declare God you go see when we get into fights that we're not supposed to fight we're gonna lose and sometimes that's what we do we get into battles that are not ours to fight sometimes so this morning right there where you are can you declare God you are our champion God you are fight the battles for me." [00:30:44] (47 seconds)

"I have not attained it. I've got room for growth. Can you say that with me? I have not attained it. I have room for growth. One more time. I have not attained it. I have. I have room for growth. If you're watching online campus, put it in the comment box. I have not attained it. I have room for growth. Some of you type faster than others. I haven't attained it. I've got room for growth. And that's something that we need to understand." [00:37:36] (26 seconds)

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be so. Slothful in zeal, but fervent in spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. Live in hope. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight." [00:40:56] (55 seconds)

"If you and I love Jesus and are striving to be more like him, when we see something evil, we should feel disgusted. Disgusted. But man, do we tolerate evil in our lives sometimes. We. I got room for growth. Oh, that's not that bad. Oh, it's better than I used to do. No, no, no, no. Pablo, hate evil. Hate evil. Be disgusted by it." [00:44:26] (35 seconds)

"Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Can we talk about that middle one for a minute? Be patient in tribulation. Can you raise your hand if you've gone through stuff? You know, I'm reminded of several passages. Isaiah tells us this. I waited patiently for the Lord. Lord, and renewed my strength. Mounted up with wings like eagles. Those who wait on the Lord, sorry, I mixed two verses. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength." [00:54:43] (45 seconds)

"We need to have a consistent life of prayer. Our prayer life has to have consistency. We're all excellent at praying when we're going through the trial. We're good at praying when we're going through stuff. But we got to be constant in prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5 .17, write it down. It's going to come up on the screen. 1 Thessalonians 5 .17 says this, pray without ceasing. Second shortest verse, of the Bible. Shortest verse of the Bible, Jesus wept. Second shortest verse of the Bible, pray without ceasing." [01:00:08] (40 seconds)

"Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. As Christians, we have room to grow, and let's walk in empathy. You and I need to walk in empathy. What does it mean to rejoice with those who rejoice? Man, you got the new job. You got the promotion. Man, I'm so proud of you, Tony. I'm happy for you, man. Praise God. Honestly meaning it. Not, man, that's so awesome. God, when am I getting my promotion? Why do you always bless him?" [01:03:31] (29 seconds)

"Live in harmony with one another. Live in harmony with one another. Try to get along. Find the common ground, people. Just because that guy's a Jet fan and I'm a Dolphin fan, we can still be friends. Let's live in harmony. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Haughty is another one of those words we read in the Bible. It's like, what does haughty mean? It's arrogant. Don't be arrogant. Don't be prideful." [01:06:30] (39 seconds)

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