Jesus: The Word Made Flesh and Our Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus as the Complete Message of God

Jesus is the embodiment of God's message, encompassing all aspects of divine truth and love. His incarnation is not merely a historical event but a living revelation that continues to transform lives today. By understanding Jesus as the Word made flesh, we recognize that He is the full expression of God's communication to humanity. This truth invites us to become conduits of His presence, allowing His light to shine through us into the darkness of the world. As we embrace this reality, we are empowered to live out His love and truth, impacting those around us with the transformative power of His presence. [05:24]

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively embody the message of Jesus in your daily interactions this week, bringing His light into areas of darkness around you?

Day 2: The Purposeful Mission of Jesus

Jesus was sent with a divine purpose: to reveal the Father and reconcile humanity to God. This mission is not just a historical fact but a living call for us to be His ambassadors in the world. As followers of Christ, we are invited to carry His love and truth into every situation we encounter, mirroring His mission in our own lives. This means being intentional about how we represent Him in our words, actions, and attitudes, bringing hope and change wherever we go. By aligning ourselves with His mission, we become active participants in His work of reconciliation and transformation. [08:35]

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you act as an ambassador of Christ's love and truth in your community this week?

Day 3: The Constant Presence of Jesus

The concept of Jesus dwelling among us, or "tabernacling," emphasizes His constant and abiding presence in our lives. This presence offers us strength and courage in every circumstance, reminding us that we are never alone. By recognizing His presence, we can face challenges with confidence, knowing that He is with us, for us, and in us. This awareness transforms our perspective, enabling us to approach life's difficulties with a sense of peace and assurance. As we cultivate an awareness of His presence, we are empowered to live boldly and courageously, reflecting His love and grace to those around us. [14:03]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater awareness of Jesus' presence in your daily life, especially in moments of fear or uncertainty?

Day 4: The Womb of Conception

The imagery of Jesus being born into a womb symbolizes the birthing of divine purposes within us. This metaphor invites us to consider how the seed of the kingdom is planted within us, calling us to be reproductive agents of His love and grace in the world. As we engage with this truth, we are reminded that we carry the capacity to shift atmospheres and bring the reality of heaven to earth. This means being intentional about nurturing the divine purposes within us, allowing them to grow and bear fruit in our lives and the lives of those around us. [20:44]

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What divine purpose do you sense God is birthing within you, and how can you nurture it to fruition in your life?

Day 5: Transformative Presence

As carriers of the Spirit, we have the capacity to shift atmospheres and bring the reality of heaven to earth. By honoring His presence and seeking His guidance, we can become vessels of His peace, joy, and hope, impacting lives and situations around us. This transformative presence is not just for our benefit but for the benefit of those we encounter. As we allow the Spirit to work through us, we become agents of change, bringing the kingdom of God into every sphere of our influence. This requires a willingness to be led by the Spirit, trusting that He will guide us in every situation. [27:34]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you allow the Holy Spirit to work through you to bring transformation to your surroundings this week?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that Jesus is the Word made flesh, dwelling among us, and the transformative power this truth holds for our lives. We began by reflecting on the nature of the Word as described in John 1, emphasizing that Jesus is not just a part of the message but the entirety of it. His incarnation is a divine revelation that brings salvation and transformation, not only to us but through us to the world around us. The story of Jesus' birth is a powerful narrative of heaven breaking into earth, a reminder that the unseen realm can manifest in our everyday lives.

We delved into the significance of Jesus being sent with a purpose, highlighting that His mission was to reveal the Father and bring about reconciliation. This mission is mirrored in our lives as we are called to be carriers of His presence, bringing hope and change wherever we go. The concept of Jesus dwelling among us, or "tabernacling," underscores His constant presence in our lives, offering us strength and courage in every situation. This dwelling is not just external but internal, as Christ in us is the hope of glory, empowering us to live out His love and truth.

Furthermore, we discussed the idea of Jesus being born into a womb, symbolizing the place of conception and birthing. This imagery invites us to consider how the seed of the kingdom is planted within us, calling us to be reproductive agents of His love and grace in the world. As we engage with this truth, we are reminded that we carry the capacity to shift atmospheres and bring the reality of heaven to earth.

In closing, we are encouraged to live with the awareness that we are filled with the Spirit and presence of God, capable of transforming the spaces we inhabit. By honoring His presence and seeking His guidance, we can become vessels of His peace, joy, and hope, impacting lives and situations around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus as the Word: Jesus is the complete message of God, embodying all aspects of divine truth and love. His incarnation is a revelation that transforms us and enables us to transform others. As we embrace this truth, we become conduits of His presence, bringing light into darkness. [05:24]
2. The Mission of Jesus: Jesus was sent with a specific purpose to reveal the Father and reconcile humanity to God. This mission is mirrored in our lives as we are called to be His ambassadors, carrying His love and truth into every situation we encounter. [08:35]
3. Dwelling Among Us: Jesus' presence is constant and abiding, offering us strength and courage in every circumstance. By recognizing His presence, we can face challenges with confidence, knowing that He is with us, for us, and in us. [14:03]
4. The Womb of Conception: The imagery of Jesus being born into a womb symbolizes the birthing of divine purposes within us. We are called to be reproductive agents of His kingdom, spreading His love and grace to those around us. [20:44]
5. Transformative Presence: As carriers of the Spirit, we have the capacity to shift atmospheres and bring the reality of heaven to earth. By honoring His presence and seeking His guidance, we can become vessels of His peace, joy, and hope, impacting lives and situations around us. [27:34]
** [27:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:22] - The Word and Transformation
[03:18] - The Christmas Narrative
[04:27] - Heaven Breaking into Earth
[05:24] - Revelation of the Incarnation
[06:37] - Jesus as the Word
[08:35] - Jesus' Mission and Purpose
[12:17] - The Importance of Dwelling
[12:58] - God With Us
[14:03] - Emmanuel: God With Us
[15:41] - Encountering God's Presence
[17:18] - God For Us
[18:08] - The Backing of Heaven
[19:47] - Christ In Us: Hope of Glory
[20:44] - The Womb of Conception
[22:15] - Reproductive Agents of the Kingdom
[23:23] - Birthing Ground for the Spirit
[25:57] - Transformative Presence
[27:34] - Shifting Atmospheres
[30:02] - Filled with the Spirit
[31:50] - Becoming What We Behold

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does John 1:14 mean when it says "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us"? How does this relate to the idea of Jesus "tabernacling" with us? [05:24]
In Luke 1:39-45, how does Elizabeth's reaction to Mary's visit highlight the significance of Jesus' presence even before His birth? [03:18]
According to Colossians 1:15-20, what are some of the attributes and roles of Jesus mentioned in this passage? How do these attributes support the sermon’s message about Jesus being the complete message of God? [08:35]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of Jesus as the Word challenge or deepen our understanding of His role in our lives and the world? [06:37]
What does it mean for believers to be "reproductive agents" of Jesus' love and grace, as mentioned in the sermon? How does this relate to the imagery of the womb in Luke 1? [20:44]
The sermon discusses Jesus' mission to reveal the Father and bring reconciliation. How can this mission be mirrored in the lives of believers today? [08:35]

Application Questions

Reflect on a situation in your life where you need to recognize Jesus' constant presence. How can acknowledging His presence change your approach to this situation? [14:03]
The sermon encourages us to be carriers of Jesus' presence, bringing hope and change. Identify one area in your community where you can actively bring about positive change this week. [27:34]
Consider the idea of being filled with the Spirit and presence of God. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are spiritually filled before engaging in daily activities or conversations? [30:02]
How can you become more aware of the "internal dialogue" with the Holy Spirit during your interactions with others? What might this look like in a practical sense? [12:17]
The sermon mentions the transformative power of Jesus' incarnation. Can you recall a time when you experienced a personal transformation through your faith? How did it impact those around you? [05:24]
Think about the concept of "shifting atmospheres" as a carrier of the Spirit. How can you intentionally create an atmosphere of peace and joy in your home or workplace this week? [27:34]
The sermon highlights the importance of being sent with a purpose. What is one specific mission or purpose you feel called to pursue in your life right now? How can you take a step towards it this week? [08:35]

Sermon Clips

"When you read every word on the page of the scriptures, in the person of Jesus flows every word from before, behind, alpha, omega, first, last. In the person of Jesus, every piece of that dwells. That's amazing when you really stop. Like, it's almost unbelievable, right? To try to wrap our heads around that. There's so many different facets, so many different expressions that come." [00:07:46] (46 seconds)

"he came to you and I to become an expression of heaven to become an expression of the father for those of you that maybe live around the business world you've heard of EOS entrepreneurial operating system there's something about the rocks and the core values and the way that a business operates that probably is unlike and very different than maybe other businesses." [00:08:41] (26 seconds)

"The next thing that we see about Jesus as the word is that he was sent John 6 38 says for I've come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me the one who sent me the idea of sent is to move from one place to another so when Jesus came down heaven the father's face in bodily form we see that he was sent for an expressed purpose and mission." [00:10:21] (29 seconds)

"The word became flesh and dwelt among us. This word literally means to tabernacle or to stay with, to be fixed upon. And I love the idea of this because it's like, and it's a place for him to abide with us. We see that on John 15, right? It's this idea of staying tapped into the source, tapped into the vine that he came to dwell with us." [00:13:24] (34 seconds)

"when we actually just take a moment and say like think about that situation close your eyes for a moment think about that situation where you know you need the reality of God with us God with you is it in a marriage situation is it in a job situation a co -worker where there's friction is it in an illness or disease if you just sat and turned your affection and your attention toward him and just honored the space of who he is as God with you." [00:14:51] (44 seconds)

"The third thing is that he is God in us. So he is with us, he's for us, and he's in us. Yes, he is Christ in us, the hope of glory. We find this on the pages of Colossians 1 .27, that to them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, who is Christ in you, the hope of glory." [00:19:24] (24 seconds)

"So essentially, if I tied together this passage of scripture in John chapter 1 with Luke chapter 1, we see that the word was born into a womb. There is a difference. There's something that's powerful about that because the womb is a place of conception. It's the place of birthing. It's the place of reproduction." [00:20:07] (26 seconds)

"The value of this, guys, is that there are things that, even as you show up in conversations with people across a table or in a church, you have a word. In the family meals that are coming up, all the things, like, you're showing up with the very spirit and presence of God that carries the capacity to shift the space." [00:27:34] (27 seconds)

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Transcript

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