Making Jesus Preeminent: A Call to Spiritual Renewal

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the profound significance of making Jesus Christ preeminent in every aspect of our lives. As we prepare to enter a new year, it's crucial to reflect on the past and set our priorities straight for the future. The upcoming 21 days of prayer and fasting is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God, ensuring that He remains at the center of our lives, families, and spiritual growth.

We began by acknowledging the importance of prayer and fasting, not as a mere tradition but as a powerful spiritual discipline that aligns our hearts with God's will. This period is a time to bring our needs and the needs of others before God, trusting that He hears and answers our prayers. We are encouraged to fill out prayer cards, laying them at the altar as a symbol of our faith and commitment to intercede for others.

The message from Hebrews 4 reminds us of Jesus as our great high priest, who empathizes with our weaknesses and offers us grace and mercy in our time of need. This truth invites us to approach God's throne with confidence, knowing that He is ready to meet us where we are, regardless of our circumstances.

As we look forward to 2025, we are reminded of the urgency of living each day with purpose, making the most of every opportunity. The call to make Jesus preeminent in our lives is not just a suggestion but a necessity for living a godly life. Our beliefs shape our actions, and when Christ is truly preeminent, our lives reflect His glory through purity, love, and service.

The challenge for the new year is to ensure that Jesus is not just an add-on to our lives but the very foundation upon which we build everything. This involves a commitment to spiritual growth, being rooted in truth, and living out our faith in tangible ways. As we devote ourselves to prayer and intercession, we trust that God will work through us to bring about transformation in our lives and the lives of those around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Prayer and Fasting as Spiritual Discipline: Engaging in 21 days of prayer and fasting is a powerful way to align our hearts with God's will, bringing our needs and the needs of others before Him with faith and expectation. [29:36]

2. Jesus as Our Great High Priest: Hebrews 4 reminds us that Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses and offers grace and mercy, inviting us to approach God's throne with confidence. This truth encourages us to bring our burdens to Him, knowing He is ready to meet us where we are. [31:42]

3. Making Jesus Preeminent: The call to make Jesus preeminent in our lives is essential for living a godly life. Our beliefs shape our actions, and when Christ is truly preeminent, our lives reflect His glory through purity, love, and service. [50:20]

4. Commitment to Spiritual Growth: As we enter the new year, we are challenged to ensure that Jesus is not just an add-on but the foundation of our lives. This involves being rooted in truth, living out our faith, and committing to spiritual growth. [54:51]

5. Devotion to Prayer and Intercession: Devoting ourselves to prayer and intercession is crucial for spiritual progress. By prioritizing prayer, we trust that God will work through us to bring about transformation in our lives and the lives of those around us. [01:30:16]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction and Greetings
- [02:00] - Importance of Prayer and Fasting
- [05:00] - Filling Out Prayer Cards
- [08:00] - Jesus as Our High Priest
- [12:00] - Encouragement to Bring Needs to the Altar
- [15:00] - Praising God for His Attributes
- [20:00] - The Preeminence of Christ
- [25:00] - Preparing for the New Year
- [30:00] - Addressing Heresies and Truth
- [35:00] - Spiritual Growth and Maturity
- [40:00] - Commitment to Prayer and Intercession
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
- [50:00] - Celebrating Decisions for Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 4:14-16
2. Colossians 1:18
3. Matthew 5:16

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Hebrews 4:14-16 tell us about Jesus' role as our high priest, and how does this relate to our ability to approach God with confidence? [31:42]

2. According to Colossians 1:18, what does it mean for Jesus to have preeminence in all things, and how is this concept emphasized in the sermon? [57:26]

3. How does the sermon describe the significance of prayer and fasting as a spiritual discipline, and what are the expected outcomes of engaging in this practice? [29:36]

4. What examples were given in the sermon about how our beliefs shape our actions, particularly in making Jesus preeminent in our lives? [50:20]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the understanding of Jesus as our high priest in Hebrews 4:14-16 impact the way believers approach God in times of need? [31:42]

2. In what ways does making Jesus preeminent in our lives influence our daily decisions and interactions with others, as discussed in the sermon? [50:20]

3. The sermon mentions the importance of spiritual growth and being rooted in truth. How can believers ensure that their spiritual growth is aligned with biblical truth? [54:51]

4. How does the concept of letting our light shine before others, as mentioned in Matthew 5:16, relate to the call for believers to make Jesus famous through their actions? [01:13:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current prayer life. How can you incorporate the practice of prayer and fasting to deepen your relationship with God in the coming year? [29:36]

2. Consider the areas of your life where Jesus may not be preeminent. What specific steps can you take to ensure that He becomes the foundation of your decisions and actions? [50:20]

3. Identify a personal weakness or struggle. How can the truth of Jesus as our empathetic high priest encourage you to bring this issue before God with confidence? [31:42]

4. Think about a recent decision you made. How did your beliefs about Jesus influence that decision, and how can you ensure that future decisions reflect His preeminence in your life? [50:20]

5. As you prepare for the new year, what specific goals can you set to prioritize spiritual growth and being rooted in biblical truth? [54:51]

6. Identify one person in your life who may benefit from seeing the light of Christ through your actions. What practical steps can you take this week to let your light shine before them? [01:13:35]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s challenge to make Jesus preeminent in your family. What changes can you implement in your family dynamics to ensure that Jesus is at the center? [01:14:51]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Aligning Our Hearts with God's Will

Engaging in 21 days of prayer and fasting is not just a ritual but a profound spiritual discipline that helps align our hearts with God's will. This period is an opportunity to bring our personal needs and the needs of others before God, trusting in His power to hear and answer our prayers. By dedicating time to prayer and fasting, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with God, allowing Him to guide our paths and transform our lives. This practice is a testament to our faith and commitment to intercede for others, symbolized by the act of filling out prayer cards and laying them at the altar. [29:36]

Isaiah 58:6-9 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’"

Reflection: What specific need or burden can you bring before God during this time of prayer and fasting, trusting Him to work in ways beyond your understanding?


Day 2: Confidence in Approaching God's Throne

Hebrews 4 reminds us of the comforting truth that Jesus, our great high priest, empathizes with our weaknesses and offers us grace and mercy. This understanding invites us to approach God's throne with confidence, knowing that He is ready to meet us where we are, regardless of our circumstances. In times of need, we can bring our burdens to Him, assured of His readiness to provide help and comfort. This truth encourages us to live with the assurance that we are never alone in our struggles, as Jesus walks with us, offering His strength and support. [31:42]

Hebrews 10:19-22 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to approach God with more confidence, trusting in His grace and mercy to meet your needs?


Day 3: The Necessity of Christ's Preeminence

Making Jesus preeminent in our lives is essential for living a godly life. Our beliefs shape our actions, and when Christ is truly preeminent, our lives reflect His glory through purity, love, and service. This call is not just a suggestion but a necessity, urging us to live each day with purpose and make the most of every opportunity. As we prepare for the new year, we are reminded of the urgency to prioritize Christ above all else, ensuring that He is the foundation upon which we build everything. [50:20]

Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to ensure that Jesus is preeminent in your daily decisions and actions?


Day 4: Rooted in Truth and Spiritual Growth

As we enter the new year, we are challenged to ensure that Jesus is not just an add-on but the foundation of our lives. This involves being rooted in truth, living out our faith, and committing to spiritual growth. By dedicating ourselves to understanding and applying God's Word, we can grow in maturity and reflect His character in our lives. This commitment to spiritual growth is a journey that requires intentionality and perseverance, as we seek to deepen our relationship with God and live out our faith in tangible ways. [54:51]

Ephesians 4:14-15 (ESV): "So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."

Reflection: What specific area of your spiritual life do you feel called to grow in this year, and how can you take steps to pursue that growth?


Day 5: The Power of Prayer and Intercession

Devoting ourselves to prayer and intercession is crucial for spiritual progress. By prioritizing prayer, we trust that God will work through us to bring about transformation in our lives and the lives of those around us. This devotion to prayer is not just about personal growth but also about interceding for others, standing in the gap and lifting their needs before God. As we commit to this practice, we become vessels through which God's love and power can flow, impacting our communities and the world. [01:30:16]

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV): "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can commit to praying for regularly, asking God to work in their life in a powerful way?

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Quotes



For 21 days, 21 nights, we're asking you to commit to making Jesus preeminent in your prayer. Flooding this altar, whether it's one or 21 nights that you can be here, I'm asking you to set aside some time to come and pray. Over things that are near to the heart of God and to our church family. [00:59:20] (26 seconds)


If Christ is your sure foundation, you have no need to move. If he's, you're studying and growing in the word, listen, you will not be easily enticed by false doctrine. And if your heart is overflowing with thanksgiving, listen, you'll not even consider turning from the fullness that you have in Christ Jesus. [01:29:40] (22 seconds)


When we make Jesus Christ and the Christian revelation only somebody say only now I want you to get this now when we make him only part only part of a total religious system or philosophy we cease to give him preeminence notice that in other words I've always I've said it this way listen Christ didn't save you so that you so that he would become an addendum to your already life. [00:50:20] (35 seconds)


This is an amazing God that I'm talking about this morning. He is preeminent in all the earth and heaven. I say all of that to position us for the upcoming year which we're about to face. We're about to enter into the year 2025. New Year's is coming and there is no doubt that many of us will enter into the new year with either new or renewing some of the goals that we have set for our life. [00:44:55] (28 seconds)


And so the Holy Spirit is both our condenser, but he is also the one who teaches and the one who guides. That's why I want to anchor in for 21 days in the power of Holy Spirit -led prayer as we do our 21 days of fasting. [00:49:40] (18 seconds)


So our challenge today is to make him preeminent. Listen, pray as intercessors with an alert mind. Being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4 and 2. That's my prayer for you. Would you bow your heads today? Father, thank you for our time together today. [01:31:37] (21 seconds)


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Transcript
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