God Sees Us: Embracing Honor and Adequacy in Christ
Summary
In the sermon, I was drawn to Isaiah chapter 40, which speaks to those who feel unseen or overlooked by God. I related this to the feeling of the prophet Isaiah when he questioned if God was aware of his existence and his struggles. I emphasized that God, in his infinite might and power, sees each one of us and is aware of our individual challenges, whether they are financial, business-related, or relational. I encouraged those who identify with this feeling to know that God sees them and meets them exactly where they are.
In the second part of the sermon, I discussed the concept of honor as demonstrated in the trinity. I explained that Jesus honors the Father through obedience, the Father honors the Son by exalting Jesus, and the Spirit honors the Son by revealing Jesus. The Father and Son honor the Spirit by gifting the Holy Spirit to the church. I tied this into 2 Corinthians 3, which speaks about the tension we live with, feeling inadequate yet made adequate by God. I emphasized that our adequacy comes from God, who made us adequate as servants of a new covenant.
Key Takeaways:
- God sees each one of us and is aware of our individual challenges. He meets us exactly where we are. ([45:53])
- The concept of honor is demonstrated in the trinity, with each member honoring the others in different ways. ([01:08:08])
- We live with a tension of feeling inadequate yet being made adequate by God. Our adequacy comes from God, who made us adequate as servants of a new covenant. ([01:09:47])
- The glory we experience through Christ is far greater than what was experienced in the past, such as during Moses' time. ([01:13:06])
- We are the light of the world because Christ, the light of the world, lives in us. It's Him shining through us. ([01:13:54])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The ministry of the spirit living inside us allows us to recognize God's glory in each other, even when it's not being used for God's glory. This recognition is a form of honor, applying the correct weight to someone in terms of Glory. [01:15:49]
2. When dealing with difficult people or those who disagree with us, it's important to see them as God sees them and call out their potential. This is done through honor, which can be challenging but is necessary for effective communication and relationship building. [01:16:34]
3. Sometimes we try to push people to places they're not ready to go or answer questions they're not asking. It's important to find the right timing and approach to honor others and help them grow. [01:18:10]
4. During challenging times, it's important to communicate and bring life and truth to the situation. This requires wisdom and discernment. [01:19:05]
5. Encouragement is a powerful tool in our relationships with each other. It's important to be bold, receive prayer, and believe in the power of prayer. [01:42:40]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
2. Romans 12:10
3. Proverbs 15:23
4. James 1:5
5. Hebrews 3:13
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. How does the ministry of the spirit living inside us help us recognize God's glory in others?
2. What does it mean to apply the correct weight to someone in terms of Glory?
3. How can we honor others when they disagree with us or are difficult to deal with?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 relate to recognizing God's glory in others?
2. How does Romans 12:10 instruct us to honor others, especially when they are difficult to deal with?
3. How does Proverbs 15:23 guide us in finding the right timing and approach to honor others and help them grow?
Application Questions:
1. Can you share a time when you recognized God's glory in someone else, even when it wasn't being used for God's glory?
2. How can you apply the principle of seeing others as God sees them in your relationships?
3. Can you share a time when you encouraged someone or received encouragement that made a significant impact?
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing God's Glory in Others
We are all made in the image of God, and as such, we all carry a piece of His divine glory within us. Recognizing this glory in others can transform our interactions, fostering a deeper sense of love, respect, and unity.
1 Corinthians 12:27 - "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
Reflection: Can you think of a recent interaction where you recognized God's glory in someone else? How did that recognition impact your interaction with them?
Day 2: Dealing with Difficult People
Interacting with difficult people can be challenging, but it also provides an opportunity to exercise wisdom and patience. By responding with a gentle answer rather than a harsh word, we can diffuse tension and demonstrate the love of Christ.
Proverbs 15:1 - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent encounter with a difficult person. Did you respond with a gentle answer or a harsh word? How could you have used wisdom to adorn knowledge in that situation?
Day 3: The Power of Prayer
Prayer is a powerful tool that can bring comfort, guidance, and strength in both good times and bad. By turning to prayer, we can deepen our relationship with God and find peace in His presence.
Philippians 4:6 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Reflection: Can you recall a recent situation where you turned to prayer in times of trouble or happiness? How did that prayer impact your situation or your feelings about it?
Day 4: The Importance of Encouragement
Encouragement can have a profound impact on others, spurring them on toward love and good deeds. By being intentional about encouraging others, we can help to build up the body of Christ.
Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Reflection: Think of a recent opportunity where you could have spurred someone on toward love and good deeds. Did you take that opportunity? If not, how can you be more intentional about encouraging others in the future?
Day 5: God Sees and Understands Our Struggles
No matter what struggles we face, we can take comfort in the fact that God sees and understands our struggles. By leaning on His understanding, we can find strength in our weariness.
Isaiah 40:28 - "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent struggle you've had. Did you feel God's strength in your weariness? How can you better lean on God's understanding in your future struggles?
Quotes
1. "You have the ministry of the spirit living inside and so what is that mirror? The mirror is each other. If Christ is in all of us, the hope of glory, that when we see each other we should see the glory of God. It should be revealed." - 01:15:14
2. "Part of my honoring is to recognize the gift that you are to the body of Christ. You've been created for purpose, you've been designed with a gift, you are that gift. No one is bigger than the rest." - 01:34:46
3. "Prayer is that beginning place that I think breaks off the chains, breaks the bondage that could be holding you back. We believe in prayer, the power of prayer, and we've seen so many miracles through that." - 01:42:23
4. "Identity is one of the cries of the generation. It's one of the cries of our nation right now. When we've removed God from everything, it leaves us floundering to try to figure out, 'Who am I? What's my purpose?'" - 01:03:28
5. "When I honor someone and I see them as God has made them, I begin to operate and treat them from that place. It opens the door to now me being able to actually speak into their life. The shift that has to happen is when I can see beyond all that and come from a place of peace and a place of love." - 01:03:28
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