Magnificent Perception: Transforming Our Relationship with God

 

Summary

Understanding God correctly is crucial for our spiritual journey. William Law encourages us to think magnificently of God, emphasizing the importance of our perception of Him. A.W. Tozer echoes this sentiment, suggesting that our idea of God should align as closely as possible with His true nature. This alignment is more significant than our creedal statements or religious conventions. Often, our true beliefs about God are hidden beneath layers of conventional religious notions, requiring a deep and sometimes painful self-examination to uncover.

Our actions, whether as professing Christians or otherwise, reflect our true understanding of God. Therefore, it is vital to carry an idea of God that allows us to think magnificently of Him. This perspective enables us to bring God into every aspect of our lives, expecting Him to act with us. By doing so, we cultivate a relationship with God that is vibrant and transformative, allowing His presence to influence our daily actions and decisions.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of a Magnificent View of God: Our perception of God should be grand and magnificent, as this shapes our relationship with Him. A limited view can restrict our spiritual growth and understanding. By striving to see God in His true magnificence, we open ourselves to a deeper, more meaningful connection with Him. [00:20]

2. Aligning Our Idea of God with His True Nature: A.W. Tozer highlights the necessity of aligning our idea of God with His true being. This alignment is more crucial than adhering to creedal statements, as it influences our spiritual life profoundly. It requires us to move beyond superficial religious notions and seek a genuine understanding of God. [00:36]

3. The Challenge of Self-Examination: Discovering our true beliefs about God often involves a challenging process of self-examination. This ordeal can be painful but is essential for uncovering the layers of conventional religious ideas that obscure our true understanding. Through this process, we can develop a more authentic relationship with God. [01:04]

4. Actions Reflect Beliefs: Our actions are a true indication of our beliefs about God. Whether we are professing Christians or not, what we do reveals our understanding of God. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a view of God that inspires us to act in ways that reflect His love and truth. [01:20]

5. Carrying God into Every Aspect of Life: By holding a magnificent idea of God, we can bring His presence into every part of our lives. This perspective allows us to expect His active involvement in our daily experiences, transforming how we live and interact with the world. [01:37]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Thinking Magnificently of God
[00:36] - Aligning with God's True Nature
[00:49] - Beyond Religious Conventions
[01:04] - The Ordeal of Self-Examination
[01:20] - Actions Reflect Beliefs
[01:37] - Bringing God into Daily Life

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 145:3 - "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."
2. Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
3. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, why is it important to have a magnificent view of God? [00:20]
2. What does A.W. Tozer suggest about our idea of God and its importance compared to creedal statements? [00:36]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of uncovering our true beliefs about God? [01:04]
4. What does the sermon say about the relationship between our actions and our beliefs about God? [01:20]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might Psalm 145:3 encourage believers to think magnificently of God, and what impact could this have on their spiritual journey?
2. In what ways does Isaiah 55:8-9 challenge conventional religious notions, and how can this passage inspire a deeper understanding of God?
3. How does Romans 12:2 relate to the idea of aligning our thoughts with God's true nature, as discussed in the sermon? [00:36]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of self-examination in developing an authentic relationship with God, and how might this be reflected in one's actions? [01:04]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current perception of God. How can you begin to cultivate a more magnificent view of Him in your daily life? [00:20]
2. Consider a time when your actions did not align with your professed beliefs about God. What steps can you take to ensure your actions reflect your understanding of God more accurately? [01:20]
3. Identify an area in your life where conventional religious notions might be obscuring your true beliefs about God. How can you begin the process of self-examination to uncover these layers? [01:04]
4. How can you actively bring God into every aspect of your life, expecting His involvement in your daily experiences? What practical changes can you make to facilitate this? [01:37]
5. Think of a situation where you struggled to align your idea of God with His true nature. What resources or practices can help you gain a clearer understanding of God’s true being? [00:36]
6. How can you use the insights from this sermon to influence your interactions with others, especially in demonstrating God's love and truth through your actions? [01:20]
7. What specific steps can you take this week to renew your mind and align your thoughts with God's will, as encouraged in Romans 12:2?

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Magnificence
Understanding God as magnificent is essential for spiritual growth. A limited view of God can hinder our relationship with Him, while a grand perception opens us to a deeper connection. By striving to see God in His true magnificence, we allow His presence to transform our lives. This perspective encourages us to invite God into every aspect of our existence, expecting His active involvement and guidance. [00:20]

Psalm 145:3-5 (ESV): "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."

Reflection: How can you intentionally meditate on God's magnificence today, allowing it to shape your thoughts and actions?


Day 2: Aligning with God's True Nature
Aligning our idea of God with His true nature is more crucial than adhering to creedal statements. This alignment influences our spiritual life profoundly, requiring us to move beyond superficial religious notions. By seeking a genuine understanding of God, we can develop a more authentic relationship with Him, allowing His true nature to guide our beliefs and actions. [00:36]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: What steps can you take today to align your understanding of God with His true nature, moving beyond superficial beliefs?


Day 3: The Ordeal of Self-Examination
Discovering our true beliefs about God often involves a challenging process of self-examination. This ordeal can be painful but is essential for uncovering the layers of conventional religious ideas that obscure our true understanding. Through this process, we can develop a more authentic relationship with God, allowing His presence to influence our daily actions and decisions. [01:04]

Lamentations 3:40-41 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven."

Reflection: What is one belief about God that you need to examine more deeply today, and how can you begin this process of self-examination?


Day 4: Actions Reflect Beliefs
Our actions are a true indication of our beliefs about God. Whether we are professing Christians or not, what we do reveals our understanding of God. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a view of God that inspires us to act in ways that reflect His love and truth. By doing so, we demonstrate our faith through our actions, allowing others to see God's influence in our lives. [01:20]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: What is one action you can take today that reflects your belief in God's love and truth?


Day 5: Bringing God into Daily Life
By holding a magnificent idea of God, we can bring His presence into every part of our lives. This perspective allows us to expect His active involvement in our daily experiences, transforming how we live and interact with the world. By inviting God into our daily routines, we cultivate a vibrant and transformative relationship with Him, allowing His presence to guide and influence our decisions. [01:37]

Colossians 3:16-17 (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. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: How can you intentionally invite God's presence into a specific area of your daily life today, allowing Him to guide your actions and decisions?

Quotes

"and how we think about god a.w tozer has these words that our idea of god corresponds as nearly as possible to the true being of god is of immense importance to us compared with our actual thoughts about him that's what matters our creedal statements are of little consequence our real idea of god may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about god" [00:27]

"and what you see people doing professing christians and others what you see people doing is a real indication of their idea of god and it's so important for us to understand that and take an idea of god with us that enables us to think magnificently of him so that we can bring him wherever we are and our expectation will be that he will act with us" [01:04]

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Transcript
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