Jesus: The Center of God's Redemptive Plan

Devotional

Day 1: Worthy is the Lamb—Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb of God

In the heavenly vision of Revelation, all creation worships Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, declaring Him worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. This scene reveals that Jesus alone is able to open the scroll and fulfill God’s redemptive plan because He gave His life and shed His blood to purchase people from every tribe, language, and nation. The worship in heaven centers on the worthiness of Jesus, whose sacrifice brings us into a new covenant and makes us a kingdom and priests to serve our God. As we join in this worship, we are reminded that our prayers are precious incense before God, and our lives are meant to reflect the praise and honor due to the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. [05:50]

Revelation 5:6-14 (ESV)
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Reflection: When you consider the worthiness of Jesus, what is one specific way you can offer Him worship and gratitude today, either in prayer, song, or action?

Day 2: The Divine Exchange—Jesus’ Blood Speaks a Better Word

The blood of Jesus accomplishes what the blood of Abel could not: it speaks forgiveness instead of vengeance, mercy instead of judgment. While Abel’s blood cried out for justice after he was slain by his brother, Jesus’ blood cries out, “Father, forgive them,” offering reconciliation and freedom from sin’s captivity. Through the new covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice removes our sins completely, not just covering them for a time, and invites us to walk boldly into God’s presence as His beloved children. This better word transforms our hearts, enabling us to extend forgiveness to others and to live as agents of God’s mercy in a world still longing for redemption. [43:36]

Hebrews 12:24 (ESV)
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive today, releasing them as Jesus has released you? What would it look like to let Jesus’ “better word” shape your response?

Day 3: Created for God’s Presence—Living in Our True Environment

Humanity was created in the very environment of God’s presence, made in His image and likeness to flourish in relationship with Him. Just as fish thrive in water and plants in soil, we are only truly alive when we dwell in the presence of God. The brokenness and confusion in the world stem from living outside of this intended environment, forgetting who we are and why we were made. God’s desire is to restore us to Eden—to a place of daily fellowship, joy, and purpose—where we walk with Him, hear His voice, and reflect His love and kindness to others. [09:15]

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Reflection: What is one intentional way you can create space today to enjoy God’s presence and remember that you were made for fellowship with Him?

Day 4: The Power of Our Words—Creating an Environment of Life

The words we speak have the power to shape the environment around us, either bringing life and blessing or fostering negativity and strife. Just as God created the world by His word, we are called to proclaim His goodness, speak words of kindness, and declare His love. Complaining and anger create an atmosphere where sin and trouble multiply, but gratitude and praise open the door for more of God’s blessings. As agents of God’s kingdom, our words can lead others to experience His kindness and draw them into the freedom and joy He offers. [48:24]

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Reflection: Think about your conversations today—how can you intentionally use your words to encourage, bless, or bring life to someone around you?

Day 5: Walking in Forgiveness and Kindness—Agents of God’s Kingdom

Forgiveness is a gift that sets us free from captivity and allows us to reflect the heart of God to the world. When we hold onto anger or unforgiveness, it creates an environment of unrest and pain, but when we release others as Jesus has released us, we become conduits of His love and restoration. Our homes, relationships, and communities are transformed as we choose to speak words of love, kindness, and grace, leading others to encounter the kindness of God that leads to repentance and new life. [47:02]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Reflection: Who is one person you can show unexpected kindness or forgiveness to today, reflecting the mercy you have received from God?

Sermon Summary

From the very beginning, God’s plan for humanity has centered on Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was slain from the foundation of the world. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world, but through Jesus—the last Adam—righteousness and eternal life are made available to all who believe. God created us in His own image, designed to flourish in His presence, yet humanity’s separation from God has led to brokenness and confusion. The story of redemption unfolds through the covenants God made with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and ultimately, through the new covenant in Christ’s blood.

Throughout history, God has demonstrated that life is in the blood, and that only a perfect sacrifice could restore what was lost. From the first animal slain to cover Adam and Eve, to Abel’s offering, to the Passover lamb in Egypt, and the annual sacrifices under the law, each pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus. On the cross, Jesus fulfilled every requirement, offering Himself as the spotless Lamb. His blood speaks a better word than Abel’s, not crying out for vengeance, but for forgiveness and restoration.

Jesus’ resurrection broke the power of death and reclaimed dominion for humanity. Now, all creation waits in eager anticipation for the children of God to step into their true identity and purpose. We are called to be a royal priesthood, a people set apart to declare God’s praises and partner with Him in the restoration of all things. Our words and actions create environments—either of life or of death, of blessing or of complaint. As we walk in the grace and kindness of God, we become agents of His kingdom, inviting others into the environment for which they were created: the presence of God.

The call is to live not by the old covenant of law and performance, but by the new covenant of grace, rooted in Christ’s finished work. Forgiveness, kindness, and gratitude are not just virtues, but powerful forces that shape our lives and the world around us. As we embrace our identity as God’s children, we are invited to return to “Eden”—to daily fellowship with God, to joy, peace, and the restoration of all creation.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the center of God’s eternal plan. From creation to the cross, every covenant and sacrifice pointed to Jesus as the only one worthy to redeem humanity. His sacrifice was not an afterthought, but the fulfillment of God’s purpose from the foundation of the world. [07:10]
2. We were created to flourish in God’s presence, but sin distorts our environment. Just as fish thrive in water and plants in soil, we were made to live in the environment of God’s presence. When we live outside of that, confusion and brokenness result, but restoration comes as we return to Him. [08:31]
3. The blood of Jesus speaks forgiveness, not vengeance. While Abel’s blood cried out for justice, Jesus’ blood cries out for mercy and reconciliation. This better word frees us from cycles of anger, unforgiveness, and retribution, inviting us to extend the same grace we have received. [43:36]
4. Our words and attitudes shape the environment around us. Complaining and anger create atmospheres where negativity multiplies, while gratitude and kindness open the way for blessing and restoration. The power of life and death is in the tongue, and as God’s people, we are called to speak words that bring life. [48:24]
5. Living in the new covenant means walking in grace, not performance. Salvation is not about our ability to keep the law, but about receiving the finished work of Christ. As we embrace our identity as God’s beloved children, we are empowered to reflect His kindness, forgiveness, and love to the world, drawing others into His kingdom. [45:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Worship and Invitation of the Holy Spirit
[01:14] - Revelation: The Worthy Lamb
[02:27] - Heavenly Worship and Creation’s Praise
[03:56] - The Slain Lamb and the Scroll
[05:09] - The Song of Redemption
[07:10] - Jesus: God’s Plan from the Beginning
[08:31] - Created for God’s Presence
[10:36] - The Fall and the First Sacrifice
[13:08] - Cain and Abel: The Power of Blood
[15:44] - The Spread of Sin and Noah’s Ark
[18:17] - The Covenant with Noah
[19:36] - Abraham: The Father of Faith
[21:44] - The Sacrifice of Isaac
[25:03] - Jesus, the Fulfillment of the Promise
[26:28] - The Passover and Deliverance from Egypt
[29:04] - Daniel’s Prophecy and the Coming Messiah
[33:02] - Jesus: The Express Image of the Father
[35:42] - The Last Supper and the New Covenant
[36:53] - The Crucifixion: It Is Finished
[38:17] - The New Covenant and Our Identity
[41:32] - Creation Awaits Restoration
[43:36] - The Blood That Speaks a Better Word
[45:36] - Living in Grace and Kindness
[48:24] - The Power of Gratitude and Words
[49:37] - Returning to Eden: Daily Fellowship
[50:15] - The Dangers of Anger and the Call to Forgiveness
[51:29] - Family, Discipleship, and the Kingdom Life

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 5:12, 17-19 — _“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned… For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”_

2. Hebrews 12:24
_“To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”_

3. 1 Peter 2:9-10
_“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”_

Observation Questions

According to Romans 5, what was the result of Adam’s disobedience, and what is the result of Jesus’ obedience?
In Hebrews 12:24, what is the difference between the blood of Abel and the blood of Jesus?
What does 1 Peter 2 say about the identity and purpose of believers?
The sermon described how God created humans to flourish in His presence, just as fish flourish in water. What happens when people live outside of the environment for which they were created?

Interpretation Questions

Why does the blood of Jesus “speak a better word” than the blood of Abel, and how does this change the way believers relate to God and others?
The sermon says that our words and attitudes create environments of life or death. What does it mean for our words to have this kind of power?
What does it look like to live as a “royal priesthood” and “chosen people” in everyday life?
The sermon contrasts living by the old covenant of law and performance with living by the new covenant of grace. How might someone fall into the trap of performance, and what does it look like to walk in grace instead?

Application Questions

The sermon says that Jesus’ blood speaks forgiveness, not vengeance. Is there someone in your life you are struggling to forgive? What would it look like to let Jesus’ “better word” shape your response to them this week?
Think about the “environment” you create with your words and attitudes at home, work, or church. Are you more likely to complain or to express gratitude? What is one practical step you can take this week to speak words of life instead of negativity?
The message calls us to live in the presence of God, like returning to “Eden.” What is one way you can intentionally spend time in God’s presence this week?
The sermon says that kindness and forgiveness are not just virtues, but powerful forces that shape our lives and the world. Can you share a time when someone’s kindness or forgiveness changed your environment or perspective? How can you offer that to someone else this week?
The idea of being a “royal priesthood” means representing God to others and declaring His praises. Who in your life needs to hear about God’s goodness? What is one way you can share or show God’s love to them?
The sermon warns about the dangers of anger and unforgiveness, saying they create an environment for “terrible things to happen.” Are there patterns of anger or bitterness in your life that you want to surrender to God? What support or accountability do you need to move forward?
The message says that living by grace means reflecting God’s kindness, forgiveness, and love. What is one area of your life where you tend to rely on your own performance instead of God’s grace? How can you remind yourself this week that your identity is rooted in Christ’s finished work?

Sermon Clips

Jesus is and always has been God's plan for humanity and the world. He will never come to an end and his kingdom will never come to an end. He was involved in creation and Genesis 1. It says in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [00:07:04]

Creatures flourish in the environment for in which they've been created. However, have you heard the expression before, they're like a fish without water or outside of water, right? So we don't do well outside of our environment. Then God spoke to earth and he said, "Bring forth vegetation." [00:08:00]

But concerning us he said something different. He spoke to the environment of himself and he said, "Let us make man in our image and in our likeness." And so we were created in the environment of God himself. Can I tell you that I believe that the reason the world is such a mess today because they are not living in the environment from which they were created? [00:08:38]

They have not realized who they are and why they were created, that they were created in the image of a living God who loved them, and then he gave a command, a charge to man and woman that he created in his image and likeness. He said, "Be fruitful, full of the fruit of the presence of God and the environment in which you've been created and multiply and fill the earth and have dominion." [00:09:07]

Dominion is not sometimes what we think it is. We think of dominion as rulership, putting our f thumb on people and pressing them down, but how many of you know that Jesus showed us what dominion looks like? It's becoming the servant of all. It's expressing the love of the father. Amen, so it's a different kind of expression. [00:09:53]

And in the middle of the garden there were two trees, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life, and the Lord said that you can eat from any tree in the garden but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat it you will die. It was the tree of judgment, if you will. [00:10:36]

And so they were having a good life in the promised land. God was giving him the place of promise. Let me let me just say this to you, um, if God gives you a promise you need to walk in it. It's not just enough to hear that you have a promise, but it's important that we walk in it as we begin to walk in the promises of God, we receive that as our inheritance. [00:21:20]

To be able to contain the wine of the Holy Spirit that we continue to be flexible and molded in the presence of God, this was amazing, the worship time today was awesome, amen, and we worshiped. My message today, not that you didn't worship my message, but we worshiped, and I'm going to speak on what they sang. [00:26:33]

It's talking about Jesus. It says in John chapter 1 that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God, that all things were created by him and through him and without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life and that life was the light of men. [00:37:06]

So Jesus shed his blood so that we could be righteous. The essence of the gospel is found in 2 Corinthians 5 21 where it says Jesus who had no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. What about an amazing divine exchange? He takes our sins, he gives us his righteousness so that we can stand before God. [00:37:28]

In this season God is restoring us as the children of God to the purpose of God, to do what he's called us to do, which is to proclaim his goodness. I think a lot of times Christians are trying to live in two covenants. They're saved by grace but they want to give law to everybody else, and that brings that brings prison, doesn't bring freedom. [00:45:04]

So the Lord wants us to walk in grace and salvation is not about your performance, it's about Jesus performance, for it is by grace you've been saved through faith and it's not of yourself, it's the gift of God, not of works so that anybody could boast, for we are God's creation created in him and he has given us works to do, works of the kingdom to be his people that reflect him. [00:45:36]

Because when you walk in a place where you have unforgiveness in your heart, it speaks to you every day and every night. It's like rocks in your bed, it won't let you sleep, but when you're able to release people for whatever they've done to you because Jesus first forgave you, it sets you free and it brings about the message of God to all all creation. [00:47:08]

And I found that people who walk in with a thankful heart and they're thankful for the things that God has blessed them with and the good things that God has given them and they see the best create an environment for more opportunities to come their way for things to be thankful about. So when the word of the Lord goes forth, they will go forth with joy and they're led by peace and they speak words of life and not death. [00:48:24]

God is a good God and we need to brag on him a lot. He's called us to be children of God. It's time that we return to Eden where we experience the presence of God in our our daily relationship. One of my places of Eden is in my treeand with my bow in my hand. I've had so much joy enjoying uh God's creation in several different ways, but he speaks to me. [00:48:56]

Your prayers are very important. They are incense to God and they come up before him night and day, and they sang a new song out of the revelation and experience they were having with God and they said, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open the seals." [00:49:24]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the significance of the blood covenant in salvation?

How does creation eagerly await believers' manifestation of authority?

In what ways does walking in forgiveness impact spiritual freedom?