Living Out the Obedience of Faith Together

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Public Testimony

Our faith is not just a private matter; it is a public testimony that reflects the transformative power of the gospel. Genuine faith manifests in obedience, which is visible to others and brings glory to God. This obedience of faith is a collective calling for the church, as outlined in Romans 1:5, where Paul articulates his mission to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations for the glory of God. As believers, our lives should be a testament to the world of the change that faith in Jesus Christ brings. [01:48]

"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you make your faith more visible to those around you today, so that it becomes a testimony to the transformative power of the gospel?

Day 2: Gratitude for the Gift of Faith

Paul’s gratitude for the faith of the Roman believers highlights the importance of recognizing faith as a gift from God. This gratitude is a reminder that our faith is not self-generated but a divine gift that should lead us to thank God for the work He is doing in our lives and the lives of others. By acknowledging faith as a gift, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness and humility, recognizing that it is God who initiates and sustains our faith journey. [05:39]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Take a moment to thank God for the gift of faith in your life. How can you express gratitude for this gift in your daily interactions with others?

Day 3: The Power of Mutual Encouragement

The Christian journey is not meant to be solitary. Paul’s desire for mutual encouragement with the Roman believers underscores the importance of community and the mutual edification that occurs when believers come together to share their faith and spiritual gifts. This mutual encouragement strengthens the body of Christ and helps believers grow in their faith, as they support and uplift one another in their spiritual journeys. [18:00]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today for mutual encouragement in faith? How can you support and uplift them in their spiritual journey?

Day 4: Aligning Plans with God’s Will

Paul’s submission to God’s sovereign will in his travel plans is a powerful reminder that our plans should always be aligned with God’s purposes. This submission requires trust in God’s timing and His ultimate plan for our lives. By aligning our plans with God’s will, we demonstrate our trust in His sovereignty and our willingness to follow His lead, even when it means setting aside our own desires. [15:38]

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: What plans do you need to submit to God today? How can you trust in His timing and purpose for your life, even when it means letting go of your own desires?

Day 5: Bearing Fruit of Faith

The ultimate goal of our faith is to bear fruit that results in sanctification and eternal life. This fruit is the evidence of a life transformed by the gospel, and it is for this purpose that we exist as a church—to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things. Bearing fruit is not just about personal growth but about impacting the world around us for the glory of God. [23:11]

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:8, ESV)

Reflection: What specific fruit of faith is God calling you to cultivate in your life today? How can this fruit impact those around you and bring glory to God?

Sermon Summary

In our journey as a church, we exist to bear the fruit of the obedience of faith for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. This is our mission, as outlined in Romans 1:5, where Paul articulates his life purpose: to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations for the glory of God. This is not merely a personal mission but a collective calling for the church. Our faith is not just a private matter; it is a public testimony that is proclaimed throughout the world. Faith, when genuine, manifests in obedience, and this obedience is visible to others, bringing glory to God.

Paul's commitment to the Roman believers is evident in his gratitude for their faith, which is known worldwide. He thanks God for their faith, recognizing it as a gift from God, and this gratitude underscores his dedication to their spiritual growth. Paul’s prayers for the Romans are relentless, demonstrating his desire to visit them and impart spiritual gifts to strengthen their faith. His longing to be with them is not just to teach but to mutually encourage one another in faith, highlighting the importance of community and mutual edification in the body of Christ.

Paul’s submission to God’s will is evident in his travel plans. Despite his desire to visit Rome, he acknowledges that it is ultimately God’s will that determines his path. This submission is a model for us, reminding us that our plans should always be aligned with God’s sovereign will. Paul’s ultimate goal is to see the fruit of faith, which results in sanctification and eternal life, manifest in the lives of believers. This fruit is the evidence of a life transformed by the gospel, and it is for this purpose that we, as a church, exist.

Key Takeaways

1. The Obedience of Faith: Our mission is to bring about the obedience of faith for the glory of God. This obedience is not just a personal endeavor but a public testimony that reflects the transformative power of the gospel. Our faith should be visible and proclaimed throughout the world, bringing glory to God. [01:48]
2. Gratitude for Faith: Paul’s gratitude for the faith of the Roman believers highlights the importance of recognizing faith as a gift from God. This gratitude is a reminder that our faith is not self-generated but a divine gift that should lead us to thank God for the work He is doing in our lives and the lives of others. [05:39]
3. Mutual Encouragement: The Christian journey is not meant to be solitary. Paul’s desire for mutual encouragement with the Roman believers underscores the importance of community and the mutual edification that occurs when believers come together to share their faith and spiritual gifts. [18:00]
4. Submission to God’s Will: Paul’s submission to God’s sovereign will in his travel plans is a powerful reminder that our plans should always be aligned with God’s purposes. This submission requires trust in God’s timing and His ultimate plan for our lives. [15:38]
5. Bearing Fruit: The ultimate goal of our faith is to bear fruit that results in sanctification and eternal life. This fruit is the evidence of a life transformed by the gospel, and it is for this purpose that we exist as a church—to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things. [23:11]
** [23:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Purpose of the Church
[00:52] - Paul's Mission Statement
[01:32] - Glory of God
[02:06] - Commitment to Roman Believers
[03:15] - Thanksgiving for Faith
[05:05] - Faith as a Gift
[06:43] - Obedience of Faith
[09:12] - Faith Magnifies God
[11:03] - Paul's Prayers for Rome
[12:48] - Serving God in Spirit
[15:17] - Submission to God's Will
[16:12] - Spiritual Gifts and Establishment
[18:00] - Mutual Encouragement
[21:07] - God's Work and Glory
[23:11] - Bearing Fruit of Faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 1:5
- Romans 1:8-15
- Romans 6:17

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Observation Questions:

According to Romans 1:5, what is Paul's mission statement, and how does it relate to the church's purpose? [00:52]
In Romans 1:8, Paul expresses gratitude for the Roman believers' faith. What does he say about their faith, and why is it significant? [03:31]
How does Paul describe his prayers for the Roman believers in Romans 1:9-10, and what does this reveal about his commitment to them? [11:03]
What does Romans 6:17 say about the transformation of believers, and how does it connect to the concept of obedience of faith? [08:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does Paul's mission to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations reflect the transformative power of the gospel? [01:48]
Why does Paul emphasize gratitude for the faith of the Roman believers, and how does this gratitude underscore the divine nature of faith? [05:39]
What role does mutual encouragement play in the Christian community, according to Paul's desire to visit the Roman believers? [18:00]
How does Paul's submission to God's will in his travel plans serve as a model for aligning our plans with God's purposes? [15:17]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: How is your faith a public testimony that brings glory to God? What steps can you take to make your faith more visible to others? [01:48]
Consider the role of gratitude in your spiritual journey. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for the faith of others in your community? [05:39]
Think about your involvement in your church community. How can you contribute to mutual encouragement and edification among fellow believers? [18:00]
Evaluate your current plans and desires. Are they aligned with God's will? How can you practice submission to God's sovereign plan in your life? [15:17]
Identify areas in your life where you can bear more fruit of faith. What specific actions can you take to grow in sanctification and reflect the transformative power of the gospel? [23:11]
How can you actively participate in spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in your daily interactions and relationships? [23:30]
Reflect on a time when you felt encouraged by someone else's faith. How can you be a source of encouragement to others in your faith community this week? [18:00]

Sermon Clips

I exist by the grace of God to bring about The Obedience of Faith among the Nations, on behalf of or for the sake of the name of Jesus and his father, the glory of God. So to boil it down, I think he would say my life and my Ministry and my letter writing are for this one glorious overarching purpose to bring about The Obedience of Faith unto the glory of Christ and his father. [00:01:03]

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. Now notice four things in this verse: he says first of all that he thanks God for them. How easy it would have been for him to write, I thank God for your faith, and you didn't write that. That would be true. I'm sure that's true, but the way he wrote it matters. [00:03:34]

Persons have faith. Faith is not a commodity that Paul is going through the world amassing into a big bag. Persons have faith. Faith is only significant because it is a way that persons are toward God. It's a person thing to people thing. It's not just out there floating in the air. Faith, The Obedience of faith that comes from persons, and so he directs his thanks to God for persons first of all. [00:04:25]

The Obedience of faith is what had happened when faith is strong and faith is real and faith is vital. James says it works. Faith that works is dead faith, and faith that is vital and living is an obedient faith, and obedience is visible. Let your light so shine that men may see your good deeds and give glory to your father in Heaven, which is what evidently people were doing with regard to the Roman faith. [00:06:45]

I want to bring about The Obedience of faith for the sake of the name so that when people become believers, they magnify the name of God, not themselves. I was smart enough, I was shrewd enough, it was wise enough, but rather the name was gracious enough to me. There's a second way that Faith magnifies the supremacy of God. Faith by its very nature is dependence. [00:09:10]

Faith magnifies the dependability of the one it's leaning on. If you take a risk because somebody has promised you they'll take care of you, you magnify their trustworthiness. You show how Dependable they are when you take a risk and lean on them and trust them to come through for you. I'll catch you. God never does that, never ever ever, and if you're willing to jump, you magnify his trustworthiness. [00:09:51]

He shows the same thing, namely that he is committed to pursuing The Obedience of Faith or the glory of God in their lives by the way he calls God to witness concerning his ministry in his Spirit to God. Let's read this: for God whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the Gospel of his son, now there I'm glad the nasb put preaching of thee in italics. [00:11:07]

I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you that you may be established and you should be asking established in what, and Link it again with verse 5. That is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you each of us by the other's Faith both yours and mine. Now here's what I think verse 9 means you test this. [00:12:18]

I called God to witness something that's going on in my spirit. The reason I'm calling God to be my witness is because there's nobody else to call the witness because this is happening in my spirit where nobody else can see. I am not talking about my preaching here, I'm talking about my praying. I think that's what the verse says. How do I serve God? [00:12:48]

I want to come to Rome because I'm committed to my life mission in verse 5 to bring about The Obedience of faith above all the Gentiles including you who are in Rome. I want to speak in Rome so that more faith and more obedience happens. My service to God in my spirit on behalf of the Gospel of his son is a Relentless ceaseless crying out to God for you first in Thanksgiving and then in request. [00:16:31]

I need you and I say to Bethlehem, need you, I need you. I need, I'm going to talk more about this next week, this mutuality of spiritual gifts he's going to talk about here. He says I've got, I've got spiritual gifts I want God to gift me so that when I open my mouth Faith happens among you and you become strong and your obedience spreads more and the name is magnified more around the world. [00:19:40]

I exist to Bear the fruit of The Obedience of faith for the sake of the name. That's why we exist as a church. That's the point of this message if we exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of All Peoples we will do that by bringing about The Obedience of faith. This is light and Truth god-centered preaching to help you see Christ clearly and treasure him truly. [00:23:30]

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Living Out the Obedience of Faith Together

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Public Testimony

Day 2: Gratitude for the Gift of Faith

Day 3: The Power of Mutual Encouragement

Day 4: Aligning Plans with God’s Will

Day 5: Bearing Fruit of Faith

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Living Out the Obedience of Faith Together

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