Listening to God's Voice and Discovering Our Purpose
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of recognizing God's voice and understanding His purpose for us. I highlighted that God speaks to us through His word, from Genesis to Revelation, and that He communicates directly and specifically to us. I focused on the book of Hebrews, particularly chapter 1, verses one through three, emphasizing that God's message begins and ends with Jesus. I also stressed the importance of understanding our purpose in life, which is revealed to us as we pursue God. I further discussed the concept of Jesus as the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature, and how He holds the universe together by the word of His power. I concluded by encouraging everyone to let the light of God shine through them, and to understand that every problem has a spiritual root that needs to be addressed.
Key Takeaways:
- God communicates directly and specifically to us through His word [ 36:26]
- Our purpose in life is revealed as we pursue God [ 01:02:52]
- Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature [ 01:07:42]
- Every problem has a spiritual root that needs to be addressed [ 51:09]
- Jesus holds the universe together by the word of His power [ 01:08:55]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 1:1-3 #!!39:04!!#
2. John 1:1-3 #!!01:01:45!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 1:1-3 tell us about how God communicates with His people?
2. How does John 1:1-3 describe Jesus' role in creation?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the description of Jesus in Hebrews 1:1-3 relate to His role as the Word in John 1:1-3?
2. What does it mean that Jesus is the "radiance of the glory of God"?
Application Questions:
1. How can you actively pursue God in your daily life as suggested in the content?
2. Can you identify a time when you felt like you were running from God? How did you respond and what was the outcome?
3. How can you apply the understanding that Jesus is the Word in your interactions with others?
4. What is one way you can demonstrate that you believe Jesus is the "radiance of the glory of God" in your actions this week?
5. How can you use the understanding that Jesus is the Word to deepen your relationship with Him?
Devotional
Day 1: God Speaks Through His Prophets
God has always communicated with His people, and one of the ways He did this was through His prophets. These prophets, chosen by God, were the mouthpieces of divine revelation, delivering God's messages to His people. They were instrumental in revealing God's plan and His will to humanity ([36:26]).
Jeremiah 1:5 - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Reflection: How can you better listen for God's voice in your life, and how can you act as a prophet by sharing His word with others?
Day 2: Jesus Christ, the Image of God
Jesus Christ is the exact representation of God. He is God in bodily form. If we want to understand God's nature, we should look at Jesus. His actions, thoughts, and responses to people provide us with a clear picture of God's character ([01:07:42]).
Colossians 1:15 - "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
Reflection: How can you strive to be more Christ-like in your daily actions and interactions with others?
Day 3: Christ Holds the World Together
Jesus not only created the universe, but He also sustains it. He holds everything together, from the microscopic to the telescopic. This continual action of Jesus holding the universe together is a testament to His power and authority ([01:08:55]).
Colossians 1:17 - "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: How does understanding that Christ holds everything together affect your perspective on the challenges you face?
Day 4: Jesus Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice
Jesus Christ made the perfect sacrifice for sin. His death on the cross was the ultimate payment for our sins. Unlike the sacrifices made by the priests in the Old Testament, Jesus' sacrifice was once and for all, sufficient for all sin ([01:11:02]).
Hebrews 10:14 - "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as the perfect sacrifice impact your understanding of God's love for you?
Day 5: Radiating the Glory of God
As believers, we are called to radiate the glory of God. When we accept Christ, we receive His light, and this light should shine through us to the world. However, our human desires and attitudes can dim this light. We must strive to let God's glory shine through us ([01:07:06]).
Matthew 5:16 - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Reflection: In what ways can you better radiate God's glory in your daily life?
Quotes
1. "He never wrote a book and yet many times more books have been written about him than about anyone else who has ever lived. His discourses and teaching have been translated into over a thousand languages and have a circulation many times greater than that of any other writing in existence." - 38:41
2. "The Son trumps every living thing and every event that's gone on before or that might come later. He is all in all. The Son, He's everything. Most of the time, if you're honest when you look at a struggle you're having, if you'll track it back, here's what you'll discover: it's got a spiritual root." - 49:57
3. "From the first chapter of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation, God is speaking to us. We've tried to highlight sometimes when He says something very direct, very specific to us. That's what we've kind of tried to do during this series." - 35:53
4. "He governs the universe by his power but he governs Us by his power. What a thought! I want you to know today I draw great Confidence from that idea, from that truth concept. He's got me, he's got a purpose for me and he's holding it together." - 01:09:22
5. "Jesus Christ made the perfect sacrifice for sin. Sin required payment that payment required the blood of a perfect sacrifice. This means that this sacrifice had to be sinless, only Jesus qualifies. Jesus is the heir, he created it all, he conveys God to us, he's the perfect image of God, he holds the world together." - 01:09:22
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