Living in Faith: Embracing God's Word and Promises
Summary
In this sermon, I discussed the importance of living in accordance with the word of God and the blessings that come with it. I emphasized the need to draw near to God, cleanse ourselves of sin, and humble ourselves before Him. I also spoke about the significance of the Feast of Trumpets and the promise it carries for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I highlighted the belief that we are living in the end times, and that the rapture is imminent. I also touched on the concept of Babylon, not as a physical location, but as a state of being that is characterized by idol worship, immorality, and violence. I suggested that our current culture, particularly in America, can be likened to Babylon.
Key Takeaways:
- Living in accordance with the word of God brings blessings [ 46:15]
- Drawing near to God and humbling ourselves before Him is crucial [ 29:14]
- The Feast of Trumpets carries a promise for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior [ 30:32]
- We are believed to be living in the end times, with the rapture being imminent [ 31:08]
- Our current culture can be likened to Babylon, characterized by idol worship, immorality, and violence [ 34:15]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 4:8-10 [29:14]
2. Isaiah 55:6 [29:48]
3. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 [31:08]
Observation Questions:
1. What does James mean when he says "draw near to God and He will draw near to you"?
2. In Isaiah 55:6, what does it mean to "seek the Lord while he may be found"?
3. How does 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 relate to the concept of the "Feast of Trumpets"?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of drawing near to God relate to the idea of repentance and mourning mentioned in James 4:8-10?
2. What does Isaiah 55:6 suggest about the nature of our relationship with God and the urgency of seeking Him?
3. How does the promise of change in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 reflect the hope and promise of the Feast of Trumpets?
Application Questions:
1. How can you actively "draw near to God" in your daily life this week?
2. Can you identify a situation in your life where you need to "seek the Lord while he may be found"? How can you seek Him in this situation?
3. How does the promise of change in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 give you hope in a personal situation you are currently facing?
4. How can you apply the concept of the "Feast of Trumpets" in your life, in terms of expecting and preparing for God's promises?
5. Can you think of a time when you felt distant from God? How did you draw near to Him again?
Devotional
Day 1: Living in the Word of God
Living in the Word of God is not about a life of constant blessings, but a life of obedience and faithfulness. It's about drawing near to God, purifying our hearts, and humbling ourselves before Him. It's about seeking the Lord while He may be found and calling upon Him while He is near ([29:48]).
Isaiah 55:6 - "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."
Reflection: How can you draw nearer to God this week and seek His presence in your daily life?
Day 2: The Promise of the Feast of Trumpets
The Feast of Trumpets carries a promise for us. Jesus fulfilled all the spring Feasts and the next on the calendar that He hasn't fulfilled yet is the Feast of Trumpets. This is a promise of His return, a promise of a trumpet sound, a shout of an archangel ([31:08]).
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."
Reflection: How does the promise of Jesus' return shape your daily living and your perspective on the world?
Day 3: The Danger of Self-Indulgence
Self-indulgence, even when it invades the church, leads to destruction. It's like an addiction that ruins lives but is hard to turn away from. It's a refusal to turn away from what is destroying us ([38:51]).
Jeremiah 2:20 - "Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute."
Reflection: What self-indulgent behaviors are you struggling with and how can you turn away from them?
Day 4: The Feast of Trumpets and Repentance
The Feast of Trumpets is a time of repentance, of casting off sin and weights from the previous year. It's a time to lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ([28:40]).
Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Reflection: What sins or weights do you need to cast off in order to run the race set before you with endurance?
Day 5: The Danger of Believing What Feels Good
Many people base their beliefs on what feels good to them, even when it contradicts the Word of God. This is a dangerous path that leads away from truth and into deception ([40:12]).
Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
Reflection: Are there any beliefs you hold that are based more on what feels good than on what the Word of God says? How can you align your beliefs more closely with God's Word?
Quotes
1. "Live your best life now, it's going to be blessing after blessing. There are blessings for those who are living in the word of God." - 46:15
2. "Evil is like that, plunge ahead, close your eyes to the consequences. Even worse are those who know the consequences but being so caught up in the addictions and the immorality of the culture around them today, they still keep going and nothing seems to change." - 37:39
3. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your heart, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up." - 29:09
4. "America has become a modern Babylon in my estimation. From Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babylon to Revelation 18, Babylon has been a constant in the word of God. It's counterproductive to the word of God. Here's God and everything that's pure, here's Babylon and everything of Satan and of the devil." - 34:37
5. "Our slide toward it moral and spiritual Rebellion is accelerating day by day and it's from our government all the way down to Local School boards. Be astonished o Heavens at this and be horribly afraid and be very desolate says the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Waters and hewn themselves cisterns broken cisterns that can hold no water." - 34:37
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