God's Pursuit: The Power of Faith and Communion

 

Summary

The sermon delivered by the speaker delves into the profound narrative of God's interaction with humanity, particularly through the lens of the Old Testament and the life of the prophet Elijah. The speaker begins by emphasizing the necessity of approaching the word of God with diligence, preparation, and prayer, highlighting the importance of faith and the application of God's word in daily life. The congregation is led in a prayer to focus their hearts on Jesus, acknowledging that without Him, they are lost.

The speaker then transitions to the significance of communion, a sacrament that symbolizes Jesus' sacrifice. The act of communion is presented as an opportunity for believers to reflect on their lives, confess sins, and deepen their trust in God. It is also a communal act, reinforcing the call for disciples to make disciples.

Central to the sermon is the simplicity of the gospel message, contrasting the efforts of false religions to gain God's attention with the truth that God is already reaching out to humanity. The speaker criticizes the notion that God's presence is contingent on human actions or emotional displays, asserting that God is actively seeking a personal relationship with us and responds to our prayers.

Personal stories are shared, including the speaker's own experience of miraculous healing, which they interpret as a form of prophecy. The story of Elijah is used to illustrate the hunger for truth among God's people and the power of a prophet's prayer. The speaker also recounts the story of a man climbing the holy stairs in Rome, whose journey leads him to a deeper understanding of grace and the futility of trying to earn salvation.

The sermon series focuses on the Old Testament, aiming to reveal how it points to Jesus. The speaker discusses the story of the kings of Judah and Babylon, emphasizing God's faithfulness to the line of David and the prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus' ministry. The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is highlighted, showcasing the power of God and the futility of idol worship.

Key Takeaways:

- Approaching the word of God requires a heart prepared by prayer and a willingness to apply its teachings to our lives. The word is not merely a text to be read but a transformative force that, when engaged with faith, can guide and shape our daily actions and decisions. [01:14:29]

- Communion is a sacred act that not only commemorates Jesus' sacrifice but also calls believers to examine their lives and align themselves more closely with God. It is a personal and communal experience that reinforces the mission of discipleship and the spread of the gospel. [02:13:25]

- The gospel message is one of divine pursuit rather than human striving. Christianity stands apart from other religions in that it is God who seeks us, offering a relationship that is personal and responsive. This understanding liberates believers from the misconception that they must earn God's favor through their actions or emotional experiences. [01:55:16]

- The role of prophets, both in the biblical narrative and in contemporary Christian experience, is to direct people back to God and to enforce the covenant relationship. While the authority of Old Testament prophets is unique, the gift of prophecy continues to provide insight and guidance within the church today. [01:29:45]

- The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal serves as a powerful reminder of the futility of idolatry and the supremacy of God. Elijah's confident prayer and God's dramatic response demonstrate that true power lies not in the many words of false prophets but in the simple, direct communication with the one true God. [01:51:32]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 18:17-39 - The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
2. James 5:16-18 - The power of a righteous person's prayer, referencing Elijah.
3. Deuteronomy 11:16-17 - The consequences of idolatry, leading to drought.

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the challenge that Elijah presented to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel? ([01:47:27])
2. How did Elijah prepare his altar differently from the prophets of Baal, and what was the significance of this preparation? ([01:50:22])
3. According to James 5:16-18, what is said about the nature and power of Elijah's prayers?
4. What does Deuteronomy 11:16-17 warn about the consequences of turning to other gods?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Elijah mock the prophets of Baal, and what does this reveal about his confidence in God? ([01:49:43])
2. How does the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal illustrate the futility of idolatry and the supremacy of God? ([01:51:32])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the role of prophets in the Old Testament is similar to the role of believers today? ([01:29:45])
4. How does the concept of God seeking a personal relationship with humanity, as opposed to humans striving to gain God's attention, change the way we approach our faith? ([01:55:16])

#### Application Questions
1. Elijah approached God with a simple, direct prayer. How can you simplify your prayer life to make it more genuine and heartfelt? ([01:51:32])
2. Reflect on a time when you felt you had to earn God's favor through your actions. How can you shift your mindset to understand that God is already seeking a relationship with you? ([01:55:16])
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of approaching God's word with diligence, preparation, and prayer. What specific steps can you take this week to prepare your heart before reading the Bible? ([01:11:41])
4. Communion is a time to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and examine our lives. What areas of your life need realignment with God's will, and how can you address them this week? ([02:13:25])
5. Elijah's story shows the power of a prophet's prayer. Identify a specific area in your life or someone else's life where you can commit to praying consistently. How will you make this a regular practice? ([01:35:15])
6. The sermon mentioned the futility of trying to earn salvation through actions, as illustrated by the man climbing the holy stairs in Rome. How can you embrace the concept of grace more fully in your daily life? ([01:58:17])
7. Think about the idols in your life that may be taking the place of God. What steps can you take to confront and remove these idols, and how can you ensure that God remains the central focus of your life? ([01:39:20])

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer Prepares the Heart
True engagement with God's word begins with a heart primed by prayer, ready to be transformed and to act upon His teachings. This is not a passive reading, but an active application that shapes one's daily life and decisions. [01:14:29]

Psalm 119:18 - "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a daily practice of prayer that prepares your heart to receive and act on God's word?

Day 2: Communion as Covenant Renewal
Communion is a sacred time to reflect, confess, and realign with God, while also committing to the mission of discipleship within the community of believers. [02:13:25]

1 Corinthians 11:28-29 - "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."
Reflection: In what ways can you prepare your heart for communion to truly reflect on your life and renew your commitment to God and His people?

Day 3: God's Pursuit, Our Response
Christianity is unique in that it is God who reaches out to us, desiring a personal relationship, not based on our merit but on His grace and love. [01:55:16]

Hosea 11:4 - "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them."
Reflection: How does understanding God's pursuit of you change the way you live out your faith and respond to His call?

Day 4: Prophecy Points to Covenant
The role of prophecy is to guide God's people back to Him, reinforcing the covenant and providing insight for the church. [01:29:45]

Amos 3:7 - "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets."
Reflection: How can you be more attentive to the ways God may be speaking into your life, and how might you act on the insights you receive?

Day 5: The Futility of Idolatry
The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal underscores the emptiness of idol worship and the unmatched power of the one true God, who answers with fire from heaven. [01:51:32]

1 Kings 18:37-38 - "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench."
Reflection: What modern-day 'idols' might be present in your life, and how can you actively reject them to focus on the supremacy of God?

Quotes

"Our culture may not bow down to images and idols, but we have idols—comfort, sex, power, money, influence. These can become too important to us, over-desired, and then they become promoted to God in our life." [01:39:20] (Download)

"The word of God is like a mirror that reveals; you look into the mirror and you see yourself more clearly. You think you're reading the Bible, and then all of a sudden, you realize it's actually reading you." [01:41:35] (Download)

"Our God actually talks back and it's supposed to be a two-way relationship here." [01:55:54] (Download)

"The word of God is like a hammer that shatters the hardness and pretensions of our thoughts, the word of God is like a meal that nourishes our inner being, the word of God is everything we need." [01:42:11] (Download)

"The goodness of the Gospel is that Jesus came down to earth, not that we must ascend to Heaven. Jesus noticed us, not that we have to try to get God's notice." [01:54:38] (Download)

"Disciples make disciples; what we want you to do is we want you to respond to God's word. I mean the prophet is clear: turn and trust." [02:13:25] (Download)

"Church, my favorite point of the message every week is to show you this message, the Gospel of Jesus, in our very hands. So come to the table because you are so loved and forgiven." [02:13:25] (Download)

"The spirit of Elijah is a spirit of Resurrection that when you touch him you're alive; that's Jesus in his death he gives New Life. The double portion has been poured out on the greater prophet of Elisha, Jesus Christ himself." [02:11:43] (Download)

"Here is the way home, friends, here is the way back to God; it's through Jesus Christ. He's the one. So today, very simple, turn and trust in Jesus." [02:12:28] (Download)

"God's people are hungry for truth because the king is leading them towards false idolatrous worship. There is state-sponsored Baal worship, and it's a season of famine when it comes to spirituality among God's people." [01:32:41] (Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?