Our God Reigns Over Our Present
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God reigns over our present circumstances. Building on last week's discussion about God's sovereignty over our past, we delved into how He guides us in the here and now. We began with a playful analogy of the childhood game "Simon Says," illustrating how life often demands quick decisions and responses. Just as in the game, where listening to the right voice is crucial, in life, the voice we heed determines our path. The central question posed was: Who is the "Simon" in your life? Who do you listen to when making decisions?
Romans 12:1-2 served as our anchor, urging us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is not a suggestion but an imperative, a call to let God be the primary influence in our lives. We discussed the importance of viewing our present through the lens of God's mercy, recognizing His love and grace as the foundation for our decisions. This perspective shift allows us to respond to life's challenges with wisdom and peace, rather than fear or impulsiveness.
We also examined the role of love and devotion in shaping our actions. Just as being in love with someone affects every aspect of our lives, our love for God should influence our decisions and priorities. This love leads to a transformation that aligns our actions with His will, enabling us to live as true reflections of His character.
Finally, we emphasized the necessity of daily practices that cultivate this transformation. Engaging with Scripture, prayer, and community are vital in renewing our minds and aligning our lives with God's purposes. By giving God the reins of our lives, we allow Him to guide and direct us, leading to a life marked by His peace and purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- Listening to the Right Voice: Just as in "Simon Says," the voice we choose to follow in life determines our path. It's crucial to let God's voice be the guiding influence, shaping our decisions and responses to life's challenges. [19:59]
- Transformation Through Renewal: Romans 12:1-2 calls us to be transformed by renewing our minds. This transformation is imperative, not optional, and requires us to shift our focus from worldly patterns to God's eternal truths. [39:39]
- Love as a Guiding Force: Our love for God should be as consuming as being in love with a person. This love influences our decisions, aligning them with God's will and leading to a life that reflects His character. [39:39]
- Daily Practices for Renewal: Engaging with Scripture, prayer, and community are essential practices for renewing our minds. These disciplines help us align our lives with God's purposes and experience His peace. [39:39]
- Giving God the Reins: To experience true transformation, we must give God control over our lives. By trusting Him and acknowledging Him in all our ways, we allow Him to guide and direct us, leading to a life marked by His peace and purpose. [39:39]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to God's Reign
- [02:00] - Reflecting on Past, Present, and Future
- [04:00] - The Game of Simon Says
- [07:00] - Decision Making in Life
- [10:00] - Who is Your Simon?
- [12:00] - Romans 12:1-2 Overview
- [15:00] - Viewing Life Through God's Mercy
- [19:59] - Urgency of Listening to God
- [25:00] - Love and Devotion's Influence
- [30:00] - Daily Practices for Transformation
- [35:00] - Giving God the Reins
- [39:39] - Trusting God in All Decisions
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 12:1-2
- Romans 8:6
- Proverbs 3:5-6
Observation Questions:
1. In Romans 12:1-2, what does Paul urge believers to do in view of God's mercy? How is this related to the concept of living sacrifices? [39:39]
2. How does the sermon use the game "Simon Says" to illustrate the importance of listening to the right voice in our lives? [19:59]
3. According to Romans 8:6, what is the result of a mind controlled by the Spirit versus a mind controlled by the flesh? How does this relate to the sermon’s message on transformation? [39:39]
4. What daily practices were mentioned in the sermon as essential for renewing our minds and aligning our lives with God's purposes? [39:39]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of offering our bodies as living sacrifices in Romans 12:1-2 challenge the way we view our daily decisions and actions? [39:39]
2. The sermon emphasizes the urgency of listening to God's voice. How can this urgency be practically applied in decision-making processes? [19:59]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that love for God should influence our decisions and priorities? How does this align with the biblical call to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? [39:39]
4. How does Proverbs 3:5-6 encourage believers to trust in God’s guidance, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about giving God the reins of our lives? [39:39]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Who or what was the "Simon" in your life influencing that decision? How might you ensure that God’s voice is the primary influence in future decisions? [19:59]
2. Romans 12:2 calls for transformation through the renewal of the mind. What specific worldly patterns do you need to shift away from to focus more on God’s eternal truths? [39:39]
3. The sermon highlights the importance of daily practices like engaging with Scripture and prayer. What is one specific change you can make to incorporate these practices more consistently into your daily routine? [39:39]
4. Consider the role of love in shaping your actions. How can you cultivate a deeper love for God that influences your decisions and aligns them with His will? [39:39]
5. Proverbs 3:5-6 speaks about trusting in the Lord with all your heart. Identify an area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully. What steps can you take to lean not on your own understanding in that area? [39:39]
6. The sermon suggests that transformation begins when we give God the reins. What is one area of your life where you need to relinquish control and allow God to guide you? [39:39]
7. Reflect on the concept of living as a sacrifice to God. What practical steps can you take this week to offer your life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God? [39:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Choosing the Right Voice
In life, the voices we choose to listen to can significantly influence our path and decisions. Just as in the game "Simon Says," where listening to the right voice is crucial, the same applies to our spiritual journey. The voice we heed determines our direction and the quality of our decisions. It is essential to discern and prioritize God's voice above all others, allowing His guidance to shape our responses to life's challenges. By doing so, we align ourselves with His wisdom and purpose, leading to a more fulfilling and peaceful life. [19:59]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: Identify a decision you are currently facing. Whose voice are you listening to in this situation, and how can you ensure that God's voice is the primary influence in your decision-making process today?
Day 2: Embracing Transformation
Romans 12:1-2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, a process that requires us to shift our focus from worldly patterns to God's eternal truths. This transformation is not optional but imperative for living a life aligned with God's will. By allowing our minds to be renewed, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of God's purposes and a more profound experience of His peace. This renewal involves a conscious effort to let go of old habits and embrace new ways of thinking that reflect God's character and values. [39:39]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to experience transformation? How can you actively participate in the renewal of your mind in this area today?
Day 3: Love as a Transformative Force
Our love for God should be as consuming and influential as being in love with a person. This love shapes our decisions and priorities, aligning them with God's will and leading to a life that reflects His character. When we allow our love for God to guide us, we experience a transformation that impacts every aspect of our lives. This love is not passive but active, calling us to live in a way that honors God and demonstrates His love to others. [39:39]
1 John 4:19-21 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
Reflection: How does your love for God influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? What is one way you can demonstrate this love more clearly in your life today?
Day 4: Cultivating Daily Renewal
Engaging with Scripture, prayer, and community are essential practices for renewing our minds and aligning our lives with God's purposes. These disciplines help us to experience God's peace and guidance, enabling us to respond to life's challenges with wisdom and grace. By making these practices a regular part of our lives, we create space for God to work in us and through us, leading to a deeper relationship with Him and a more purposeful life. [39:39]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: What is one daily practice you can incorporate into your routine to help renew your mind and align your life with God's purposes? How can you commit to this practice starting today?
Day 5: Surrendering Control to God
To experience true transformation, we must give God control over our lives. By trusting Him and acknowledging Him in all our ways, we allow Him to guide and direct us, leading to a life marked by His peace and purpose. Surrendering control is not a one-time event but a daily choice to trust God's wisdom and love. When we let go of our need to control and allow God to take the reins, we open ourselves to His guidance and experience the fullness of life He offers. [39:39]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to surrender control to God? What steps can you take today to trust Him more fully in this area?
Quotes
This is what God has done in view of that mercy. Not where we've fallen short, but where he has lifted us up. Not from the poor choices that we've made, but in the great decision he made to die on the cross for our sin. The mercy, the grace. That changes our perspective. That gives us something to hone in on, to focus on, to influence us. [00:18:06] (29 seconds)
We're not here by chance. We're not here by accident. The things that happen to us are not totally by accident, but by the will of a gracious and merciful God who is working and weaving his will in and through our lives. [00:18:49] (15 seconds)
how how do we begin this transformation it's who are you in love with the most who has been most merciful and gracious in your life who are you going to give your life to thinking about and being devoted to and serving how does this transformation take place you got to remove yourself from thinking about this world and start thinking about god [00:30:27] (28 seconds)
how do we do that how do we get to that point you have to cultivate it every day every day you have to get to in front of god and you have to say to god god show me the things about me that are not of you we have to be willing to go before god and show to him ask him for his counsel ask him for his conviction ask him what it what is what what decisions am i making what my what is my focus right now lord [00:35:38] (40 seconds)
that does not have you in sight we have to be in his word we have to be engaged in scripture if if you're not engaged in scripture let me let me encourage you to do two things get a translation that you can read secondly get a binder get a book get a notebook open up to the book of john or maybe first john read a portion of scripture write it down in your notebook you mean write down to scripture absolutely write down the scripture and then ask three questions and answer them what is god saying to me about himself today what is god saying to me about me today and then what is god saying to me i need to do what start doing that if you want to if you want your mind to be on god you need to start including god get into scripture ask yourself those three questions keep a journal of how the spirit is speaking to you as you read that passage and as you decipher that begin deciphering it in your life what is it that he wants your focus to be on on that day we're going to have a transformation let me say it this way in view of god's mercy in view of what he's done to you done for you what he is calling you to be and to do which is a living sacrifice how do you get to that point of living sacrifice how do you get to that point of recognizing what god has done for you and making that real in your life you need to be in his word you need to be in scripture and you need to be asking god what are you asking me to do you need to practice serving the lord you need to be invested in you need to be involved in your church and this faith family you need to be serving others because the lord is going to speak to you through that service he's going to speak to you as you serve when he speaks to you as he serves he's going to show to you reveal in your life what it is he has designed and made you for how do we renew our minds you got to be in prayer you got to be in bible study you got to be in a discipleship group you need to be in your church you need to be invested you need to be involved you need to learn how to put the things that matter to god first [00:35:58] (160 seconds)
...if god is going to reign we need to give him the reins of our life we need him to guide us for him to direct us you know the prayer we always we have these quotes that we always say lord lead god and direct us well for him to lead for him to guide for him to direct you you need to hand something over to him you need to give him the keys you need let him sit the driver's seat you need to let him be the pilot you need to let him have the reins you need him to influence you proverbs 3 5 and 6 trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight don't make them straight don't make them straight your responsibility [00:38:36] (56 seconds)