Going All-In: Living with Eternal Priorities

Devotional

Day 1: The Necessity of Full Immersion

True transformation in our spiritual lives requires full immersion in the body of Christ. Just as learning a language is more effective through immersion, so is our spiritual growth when we fully engage with God's community and His Word. Casual engagement with faith will not yield the deep, meaningful change we seek. Immersion means participating actively in the life of the church, engaging in fellowship, and allowing the teachings of Christ to permeate every aspect of our lives. This commitment to immersion is not about perfection but about a willingness to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and hearts. [20:36]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: In what ways can you immerse yourself more fully in your faith community this week? Consider one specific action you can take to deepen your engagement.

Day 2: Embracing an Eternal Perspective

Our lives should be guided by an eternal perspective, focusing on what truly matters beyond this temporal existence. The story of the rich man in Luke 12 reminds us that our earthly possessions and achievements are fleeting, and we must prioritize our spiritual well-being and eternal treasures. Living with an eternal perspective means valuing what God values and investing in relationships and actions that have lasting significance. It challenges us to look beyond the immediate and the material, to see the bigger picture of God's kingdom and our place within it. [33:17]

2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are overly focused on the temporary? How can you shift your focus to align with an eternal perspective today?

Day 3: The Commitment to Go All-In

Christianity requires a wholehearted commitment. Like the man who sold everything to buy the field with hidden treasure, we must be willing to give our all to experience the fullness of God's kingdom. Partial commitment will not lead to the abundant life God promises. Going all-in means surrendering our own plans and desires to embrace God's will for our lives. It involves trusting Him completely and being willing to take risks for the sake of the gospel. This level of commitment is not about losing ourselves but about finding true life in Christ. [16:57]

Matthew 13:44 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 4: Understanding the Why Behind Our Actions

Our motivations are crucial in sustaining our spiritual disciplines. Understanding the 'why' behind our actions gives them meaning and purpose, enabling us to persevere even when it's challenging. Without a clear 'why,' our efforts may feel empty and unfulfilling. Knowing why we pray, serve, or give helps us to stay focused and committed, especially during difficult times. It is essential to regularly reflect on our motivations and ensure they align with God's purposes and our desire to grow closer to Him. [12:52]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: Reflect on a spiritual discipline you practice regularly. What is your 'why' for this practice, and how does it align with your faith journey?

Day 5: The Call to Sacrifice for Faith

Throughout history, many have been willing to sacrifice everything for their faith. This willingness to die for what they believed in empowered them to truly live for it. We are challenged to examine what we are willing to sacrifice for our faith and to live with that same conviction. Sacrifice in the Christian life is not about loss but about gaining something far greater—intimacy with God and alignment with His will. It calls us to let go of our own agendas and embrace the life God has planned for us, trusting that His ways are higher than ours. [40:50]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: What is one thing you sense God is asking you to sacrifice for the sake of your faith? How can you take a step towards making that sacrifice today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of living with eternal priorities and the transformative power of going all-in with our faith. We began by acknowledging the presence of God and the importance of being real with ourselves and with Him. This is a place where it's okay to not be okay, but it's not okay to stay that way. We are all on a journey, and God has a plan for each of us. Our Starting Point class is a testament to this, as it has been a catalyst for many, like Kevin Burr, who went from skepticism to a life transformed by Jesus.

We are entering a new sermon series, "For Better, For Worse," which will delve into the realities of marriage and relationships, sharing personal stories and lessons learned over 23 years of marriage. This series aims to honor God and point to the gospel, encouraging everyone to invite others to join and experience the transformative power of God's love.

As we conclude our season of prayer and fasting, we are encouraged to shift from asking to receiving, believing that God honors bold prayers. This year, we are focusing on making it the best year of our lives by aligning our lives with the patterns of heaven, positioning Christ at the center, and prioritizing our spiritual growth.

Today's message centered on the concept of priority, challenging us to consider what we are willing to die for. We explored the idea that Christianity doesn't work unless we go all-in, selling out to buy in, as illustrated in Matthew 13:44. Immersion in the body of Christ is essential for true transformation, and casual Christianity simply doesn't work.

We were reminded of the importance of living for eternity, fixing our eyes on what is unseen and eternal. The story of Elisha burning his plowing equipment symbolizes the need to let go of plan B and fully commit to God's calling. We are called to live for what we are willing to die for, understanding that our actions have eternal significance.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Immersion: True transformation in our spiritual lives requires full immersion in the body of Christ. Casual engagement with faith will not yield the deep, meaningful change we seek. Just as learning a language is more effective through immersion, so is our spiritual growth when we fully engage with God's community and His Word. [20:36]
2. Living with Eternal Perspective: Our lives should be guided by an eternal perspective, focusing on what truly matters beyond this temporal existence. The story of the rich man in Luke 12 reminds us that our earthly possessions and achievements are fleeting, and we must prioritize our spiritual well-being and eternal treasures. [33:17]
3. The Importance of Going All-In: Christianity requires a wholehearted commitment. Like the man who sold everything to buy the field with hidden treasure, we must be willing to give our all to experience the fullness of God's kingdom. Partial commitment will not lead to the abundant life God promises. [16:57]
4. The Why Behind Our Actions: Our motivations are crucial in sustaining our spiritual disciplines. Understanding the 'why' behind our actions gives them meaning and purpose, enabling us to persevere even when it's challenging. Without a clear 'why,' our efforts may feel empty and unfulfilling. [12:52]
5. The Call to Sacrifice: Throughout history, many have been willing to sacrifice everything for their faith. This willingness to die for what they believed in empowered them to truly live for it. We are challenged to examine what we are willing to sacrifice for our faith and to live with that same conviction. [40:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:27] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[06:09] - Revelation 12: A Call to Prioritize
[09:28] - Hebrews 11: The Hall of Faith
[10:18] - The Secret to Living for God
[12:52] - The Why Behind Our Actions
[15:21] - Living in the Liminal Space
[16:16] - The Challenge of Casual Christianity
[16:57] - Going All-In: The Kingdom of Heaven
[20:36] - The Power of Immersion
[23:36] - What Else is Possible?
[25:52] - Starting Somewhere: The First Step
[27:08] - Elisha's Commitment: Burning the Ships
[28:50] - Living for Eternity
[31:32] - The Importance of Eternal Perspective
[33:17] - The Rich Man's Mistakes
[36:07] - Worth Living For, Worth Dying For
[39:08] - The Frozen Turkey Analogy
[40:50] - The Call to Sacrifice
[42:13] - Rewards in Heaven
[43:29] - The Book of Life and Remembrance
[44:45] - Seeing from Christ's Perspective
[46:09] - The Discovery of Neptune: An Analogy
[47:45] - Being Pulled by Heaven
[49:47] - An All-In Moment
[50:51] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Sermon Clips

"I want to challenge you just to be very specific and be very clear with what you're going after for 2025. I believe that God will honor the faith of this house and our passion to seek him. We seek his face and I promise you, I promise you God is gonna do some big, big things this year." [00:05:18]

"What are you willing to die for? Hebrews chapter 11 and 35, the great hall of faith, they call it, going through the different patriarchs, matriarchs of faith who trusted God and were willing to sacrifice their reputation, their life, whatever, for the truth of God, for faith and trusting him." [00:08:39]

"So many times we try to fix things with discipline when really the why is off. If the why is not there, the right why is not there, then we end up just spinning our wheels and doing nothing. We end up spinning our wheels and going, I tried that. I tried this. I tried that. I tried Christianity." [00:14:51]

"The idea is this, is that it doesn't work. What doesn't work? Christianity doesn't work unless you put the right thing into it. Now, I'm going to tell you a quick story. You may have heard this story before. Many, many moons ago, maybe 12, 14 years ago, I was the awesome uncle who brought the little toy remote control car." [00:16:57]

"Matthew chapter 13 and 44 says this the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field when a man found it he hid it again then in his joy went and sold how much half of his assets a quarter of his assets no he sold everything and bought the field so before you can buy in this is telling us you have to sell out." [00:18:02]

"Immersion is the way. And a lot of us think if I come to church periodically, I'll get it. I'll start speaking heaven's language. I'll start under, no, no, no. What I'm proposing is that in 2025, that somehow we find a way to baptize ourselves in the body of Christ. The way that we listen to things, find the podcast, find the Bible reading, get to church." [00:22:01]

"Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook and meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. So he burns his company to the ground. Now, I'm not here to say, if you're a business owner, today you need to go home and burn your company to the ground." [00:28:50]

"2 Corinthians 4 and 16 says this. This is Paul. I want you to see this. Therefore, we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." [00:30:27]

"Luke chapter 12 and 15 says this. This is Jesus speaking. Then he said to them, beware and be on your guard against every form of greed. Which means there's a lot of different kinds. For not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. And he told them a parable." [00:32:55]

"Elizabeth Elliot, whose husband, Jim, died in Ecuador, trying to reach a people who had never heard the gospel. She said this. And I want you to, we're going to put it up on the screen, and I want you to feel this statement. She said, there is nothing worth living for unless it is worth dying for." [00:35:52]

"William Tyndale, as he was bird of the stake, Lord opened the king of England's eyes. John Huss, as he was bird of the stake, said, what I taught with my lips, now I seal with my blood. C .T. Studd, he said this. Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last." [00:40:20]

"One -way missionaries, William Maine, goes to the South Pacific and changes an entire island from non -believer, anti -Christian to believers. And they wrote on his tomb, so when he came, there was no light. And when he left, there was no darkness. He gave it all. He gave it all. Doesn't matter if you kill me. He gave it all." [00:41:27]

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