Living Under God's Influence: Trust, Unity, and Growth
Summary
In our series "Under the Influence," we explore the profound impact of living under God's influence. As human beings, we are designed to be influenced by God and others, but not all influences are beneficial. God knows us intimately, loves us deeply, and desires the best for us. He hopes we will open ourselves to His influence, which leads to a life without regrets. Reflecting on our lives, we often find that regrets stem from times when we did not trust or submit to God's will. In contrast, when we align with His guidance, we find peace and fulfillment.
The journey to maximizing God's influence begins with trust. Proverbs 3 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and submit to Him in all our ways. This total surrender allows God to guide us, providing clarity and purpose. Trusting God means actively following His guidance, learning from His word, and cultivating Christ-like character traits.
To maintain this influence, we must focus on Jesus, not on the imperfections of others. Keeping our eyes on Jesus helps us navigate life's challenges without losing faith. Our minds, like the reticular activator, can be trained to recognize God's presence, much like we become aware of oxygen when reminded of its importance. By consciously acknowledging Jesus' presence, we enhance His influence in our lives.
Jesus' disciples experienced His presence physically, but we are called to stay united with Him spiritually. This unity involves living with a Christ-consciousness, seeking to please Him in every aspect of our lives. By setting our hearts and minds on things above, we align our desires with God's kingdom, experiencing a qualitative leap in our spiritual lives.
To stay under God's influence, we must immerse ourselves in His word. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit, which means living under God's influence. This requires consistent engagement with Scripture, prayer, and community. By training ourselves in godliness, we strengthen our spiritual faculties, countering the overstimulation of our desires by society.
Ultimately, our goal is to develop the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These traits reflect God's influence in our lives. As we train ourselves to be godly, we prepare for the day when we stand before Jesus, seeking to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Key Takeaways:
1. Trust and Surrender: Trusting God with all our hearts and submitting to Him in every aspect of our lives opens the door to His maximum influence. This trust leads to clarity and purpose, guiding us away from regrets and towards a fulfilling life. [00:10:00]
2. Focus on Jesus: Keeping our eyes on Jesus, rather than the imperfections of others, helps us maintain our faith. By training our minds to recognize His presence, we enhance His influence in our lives, much like becoming aware of oxygen when reminded of its importance. [00:30:00]
3. Unity with Christ: Staying united with Christ involves living with a Christ-consciousness, seeking to please Him in every aspect of our lives. This unity aligns our desires with God's kingdom, leading to a qualitative leap in our spiritual lives. [00:50:00]
4. Immersion in God's Word: Being filled with the Spirit means living under God's influence, which requires consistent engagement with Scripture, prayer, and community. By immersing ourselves in God's word, we strengthen our spiritual faculties and counter societal overstimulation. [01:10:00]
5. Developing the Fruit of the Spirit: Our goal is to develop the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These traits reflect God's influence in our lives and prepare us to stand before Jesus, seeking to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." [01:30:00]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:02:00] - Introduction to "Under the Influence"
- [00:05:00] - The Importance of Trust and Surrender
- [00:10:00] - Living Without Regrets
- [00:15:00] - The Role of God's Influence
- [00:20:00] - Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
- [00:25:00] - Recognizing God's Presence
- [00:30:00] - Unity with Christ
- [00:35:00] - Setting Our Hearts and Minds on Things Above
- [00:40:00] - Immersion in God's Word
- [00:45:00] - Being Filled with the Spirit
- [00:50:00] - Training in Godliness
- [00:55:00] - Developing the Fruit of the Spirit
- [01:00:00] - Preparing for the Final Judgment
- [01:05:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Under the Influence"
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
2. Hebrews 12:2 - "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."
3. Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the commonality in times of regret in our lives? [00:10:00]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the reticular activator in recognizing God's presence? [00:30:00]
3. What does it mean to stay united with Christ, as explained in the sermon? [00:50:00]
4. How does the sermon suggest we can maintain God's influence in our lives? [01:10:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and how does this trust lead to clarity and purpose in life? [00:10:00]
2. How can focusing on Jesus, rather than the imperfections of others, help maintain our faith and enhance His influence in our lives? [00:30:00]
3. In what ways does living with a Christ-consciousness align our desires with God's kingdom, and what impact does this have on our spiritual lives? [00:50:00]
4. How does consistent engagement with Scripture, prayer, and community help counter societal overstimulation and strengthen our spiritual faculties? [01:10:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you trust in your own understanding, or did you seek God's guidance? How might you approach a similar decision differently in the future? [00:10:00]
2. Identify a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction? [00:30:00]
3. Think of a situation where you struggled to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. What practical steps can you take to cultivate one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit in your daily interactions? [01:30:00]
4. How can you create a routine that includes consistent Bible study and prayer to maintain God's influence in your life? What changes might you need to make to your current schedule? [01:10:00]
5. Consider a time when you felt God's presence strongly. What were the circumstances, and how can you recreate similar conditions to experience His influence more regularly? [00:50:00]
6. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from experiencing God's influence. How can you encourage them to open themselves to His guidance this week? [00:10:00]
7. What is one specific action you can take this week to align your desires with God's kingdom, and how will you measure your progress? [00:50:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust and Surrender to God's Guidance
Trusting God with all your heart and surrendering every aspect of your life to Him opens the door to His maximum influence. This trust leads to clarity and purpose, guiding you away from regrets and towards a fulfilling life. When you trust in the Lord, you allow Him to guide your path, providing you with the wisdom and direction needed to navigate life's challenges. Proverbs 3 emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding. By submitting to Him in all your ways, you invite His influence into your life, leading to a life without regrets. [10:00]
"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." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Focus on Jesus, Not Imperfections
Keeping your eyes on Jesus, rather than the imperfections of others, helps you maintain your faith. By training your mind to recognize His presence, you enhance His influence in your life, much like becoming aware of oxygen when reminded of its importance. Focusing on Jesus allows you to navigate life's challenges without losing faith. Your mind, like the reticular activator, can be trained to recognize God's presence, enhancing His influence in your life. By consciously acknowledging Jesus' presence, you can maintain your faith and find peace amidst life's imperfections. [30:00]
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you focused on someone's imperfections rather than on Jesus. How can you shift your focus back to Him today?
Day 3: Unity with Christ through Christ-Consciousness
Staying united with Christ involves living with a Christ-consciousness, seeking to please Him in every aspect of your life. This unity aligns your desires with God's kingdom, leading to a qualitative leap in your spiritual life. By setting your heart and mind on things above, you align your desires with God's kingdom, experiencing a deeper connection with Him. This unity with Christ is not just about physical presence but about a spiritual connection that transforms your life. [50:00]
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a Christ-consciousness in your daily routine to stay united with Him?
Day 4: Immersion in God's Word and Spirit
Being filled with the Spirit means living under God's influence, which requires consistent engagement with Scripture, prayer, and community. By immersing yourself in God's word, you strengthen your spiritual faculties and counter societal overstimulation. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit, which involves living under God's influence. This requires a commitment to engaging with Scripture, prayer, and community, allowing God's word to shape your life and counter the distractions of the world. [01:10]
"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." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create a daily habit of immersing yourself in God's word to strengthen your spiritual life?
Day 5: Developing the Fruit of the Spirit
Your goal is to develop the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These traits reflect God's influence in your life and prepare you to stand before Jesus, seeking to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." As you train yourself to be godly, you prepare for the day when you stand before Jesus, reflecting His influence through the fruit of the Spirit. This development is a lifelong journey that requires intentionality and dedication. [01:30]
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV)
Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you feel is most lacking in your life right now, and what steps can you take to cultivate it more fully?
Quotes
"Now, when I look back and I look at the regrets in my life, here's the one commonality in all of it: there's never been a time when I have trusted God, submitted to His will as it's revealed in His word, never that I have any regrets. But every time I have not done that, inevitably I end up with regret." [00:43:57] (17 seconds)
"Proverbs 3, it says, trust in the Lord with how much? All your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, does it say all? No, it must mean in some of your ways, because nobody's perfect, right? In some of your ways, submit to Him. How about this? How about submit to Him in almost all your ways?" [00:55:25] (23 seconds)
"When we keep our attention focused on Jesus, when I consciously train my mind to think about Him, it will become almost automatic, and I'll be constantly aware of His presence. How many of you know right now that you are immersed in something, and that something is called oxygen? You're immersed in oxygen, but you weren't thinking about it, right?" [01:06:50] (23 seconds)
"When we're filled with the Spirit, we are under maximum divine influence. God now has a strong influence over us. All right? So we are urged as Christians to do this, okay? To stay under the influence of the Spirit of God. Now, some of you will have to help me with this on actual times, timetables and things." [01:09:56] (27 seconds)
"Consistent Bible study, no shortcuts. We'll have as much of God's influence in our life as we have as much Bible in our minds and hearts. Familiarity, internalization of God's truth, prayer. Prayer strengthens those spiritual faculties so that we can resist temptation and understand truth and so forth. Church attendance, it's not like, well, you know, it's raining, I'm not going today." [01:24:20] (24 seconds)
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