Preaching with Reverence: Cultivating Fervent Love for Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Preaching as a Sacred Responsibility

Preaching the Word of God is a profound responsibility that requires humility and a deep sense of reverence. When one speaks God's truth, it is as if God Himself is speaking through them. This task is not limited to seasoned preachers but extends to anyone who shares God's Word, even briefly. The Apostle Paul exemplifies this approach, marked by humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than human wisdom or eloquence. His preaching was characterized by weakness, fear, and trembling, not out of concern for human opinion, but due to the gravity of conveying God's truth. This reverence is essential to maintain the spiritual vitality of churches and individuals. [09:51]

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (ESV): "And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and humility when sharing God's Word, whether in a formal setting or in everyday conversations?

Day 2: The Necessity of Continual Spiritual Renewal

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event but a daily necessity. This ongoing filling is crucial to prevent spiritual decline and to maintain a vibrant relationship with God. Many churches experience decline due to a lack of fear of God among preachers and congregants, leading to a loss of spiritual vitality. To counteract this, individuals must seek a continual filling of the Holy Spirit, which sustains their love for Christ and keeps their faith fervent. This daily renewal is essential for spiritual growth and resilience. [12:58]

Ephesians 5:18-20 (ESV): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What daily practices can you incorporate into your life to ensure you are continually filled with the Holy Spirit and maintain a vibrant relationship with God?

Day 3: Guarding Against Deception

In these last days, deception is rampant, and the key to avoiding it is to love the truth and have a fervent desire to be saved from sin. Jesus warned about the prevalence of false prophets and the danger of being led astray. Without a love for the truth and a desire for salvation, even God may allow individuals to be deceived. It is crucial to remain vigilant and discerning, grounding oneself in the truth of God's Word and seeking His guidance to navigate the challenges of these times. [25:22]

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (ESV): "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Reflection: How can you actively cultivate a love for the truth in your life, and what steps can you take to guard against deception in your spiritual journey?

Day 4: Keeping Love for Christ Alive

Our love for Christ must remain fervent and should be the driving force behind all our actions. In a world filled with distractions and temptations, it is easy to become complacent and let our love grow cold. To keep our love for Christ alive and vibrant, we must continually meditate on His love for us, particularly His sacrifice on the cross. This love should be the foundation of our Christian life, motivating us to live in a way that honors Him and reflects His love to others. [37:39]

Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV): "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to rekindle your love for Christ and ensure it remains the driving force behind your daily life?

Day 5: Overcoming Complacency in Faith

It's easy to become complacent and let our love for Christ grow cold, especially in a world filled with distractions. We must continually guard our hearts and ensure that our love for Christ remains our top priority. This involves being intentional about our spiritual practices and remaining vigilant against anything that might lead us away from our first love. By focusing on Christ's love and sacrifice, we can overcome complacency and maintain a vibrant and active faith. [42:51]

Hebrews 3:12-14 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end."

Reflection: Identify one area of your spiritual life where you have become complacent. What steps can you take to reignite your passion and commitment to Christ in that area?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, I want to emphasize the profound responsibility that comes with preaching the Word of God. It's crucial to approach this task with fear and trembling, recognizing that we are speaking as if God Himself is speaking through us. This is not just a duty for seasoned preachers but for anyone who shares God's Word, even if it's just for a few minutes. The Apostle Paul serves as a powerful example of humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit, rather than relying on human wisdom or eloquence. His approach was marked by weakness, fear, and trembling, not because he feared human opinion, but because he was deeply aware of the gravity of speaking God's truth.

The decline in many churches today can be attributed to a lack of this fear of God among preachers. Many have lost the sense of awe and dependence on God, leading to a decline in spiritual vitality. It's essential to be filled with the Holy Spirit continually, not just as a one-time experience. This ongoing filling is what prevents churches from declining and keeps our love for Christ fervent.

Moreover, we must be vigilant against deception, especially in these last days. Jesus warned us about the prevalence of false prophets and the danger of being led astray. The key to avoiding deception is to love the truth and have a fervent desire to be saved from sin. Without these, even God may allow us to be deceived.

Finally, our love for Christ must remain fervent. It's easy to become complacent and let our love grow cold, especially in a world filled with distractions and temptations. We must continually meditate on Christ's love for us, particularly His sacrifice on the cross, to keep our love for Him alive and vibrant. This love should be the driving force behind all our actions and the foundation of our Christian life.

Key Takeaways

1. time event but a daily necessity. This ongoing filling is crucial to prevent spiritual decline and to maintain a vibrant relationship with God. [12:58]
3. Vigilance Against Deception: In these last days, deception is rampant, and the key to avoiding it is to love the truth and have a fervent desire to be saved from sin. Without these, even God may allow us to be deceived.

4. Fervent Love for Christ: Our love for Christ must remain fervent and should be the driving force behind all our actions. This love is nurtured by meditating on Christ's sacrifice and His love for us, which keeps our relationship with Him alive and vibrant.

5. Avoiding Complacency: It's easy to become complacent and let our love for Christ grow cold, especially in a world filled with distractions. We must continually guard our hearts and ensure that our love for Christ remains our top priority.

** [12:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - The Responsibility of Preaching
[01:36] - The Danger of Complacency
[02:45] - Speaking as God's Utterance
[04:38] - The Example of Apostle Paul
[06:48] - Humility in Preaching
[09:02] - Trembling Before God
[11:19] - Finishing the Race Triumphantly
[14:34] - True Discipleship
[17:18] - Beware of Deception
[19:38] - Loving the Truth
[23:35] - Desire to Be Saved from Sin
[29:18] - Keeping Love for Christ Alive
[33:35] - Jesus' Love for the Father
[37:39] - Preserving Fervent Love for Christ
[42:51] - Repentance and Returning to First Love

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Peter 4:11
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 Peter 4:11, how should one speak when sharing God's Word, and what is the significance of this approach? [02:45]
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, how does the Apostle Paul describe his approach to preaching, and what does this reveal about his attitude towards human wisdom and eloquence? [06:48]
What are the two reasons mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 for why people might be led astray by deception? [19:38]
How does the sermon describe the decline in many churches today, and what is identified as a key factor contributing to this decline? [01:59]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean to preach with "fear and trembling," and how can this attitude impact the spiritual vitality of a church? [09:51]
How does the concept of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit relate to maintaining a vibrant relationship with God, according to the sermon? [12:58]
In what ways can a lack of love for the truth lead to deception, and how does this relate to the warnings given in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11? [25:22]
How does the sermon suggest that believers can keep their love for Christ fervent, and why is this important in the context of a world filled with distractions? [37:39]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own approach to sharing God's Word. Do you approach it with the seriousness and humility described in 1 Peter 4:11? How can you cultivate this attitude in your life? [02:45]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. What steps can you take to ensure you are continually filled with the Spirit, as emphasized in the sermon? [12:58]
Think about a time when you may have been deceived or led astray. How can a love for the truth and a desire to be saved from sin help prevent this in the future? [25:22]
Identify specific distractions or temptations in your life that may be causing your love for Christ to grow cold. What practical steps can you take to address these and keep your love for Him vibrant? [37:39]
How can you actively guard against complacency in your spiritual life, ensuring that your love for Christ remains your top priority? [42:51]
Reflect on the example of the Apostle Paul and his humility in preaching. How can you apply his example of weakness, fear, and trembling in your own ministry or service to others? [09:51]
In what ways can you encourage others in your church or small group to maintain a fervent love for Christ, especially in a world filled with distractions and temptations? [37:39]

Sermon Clips

For myself and I see speaking the Word of God is a very serious responsibility and even though I've been preaching now for at least 56 years I have to say that I fear God when I get into the pulpit lest I say something which is just my own bright ideas or lest I say something that God doesn't want me to say. [00:51:40]

It's very easy after some time to think, oh I can do that I got experience that's when you're in danger when that sense of fear and trembling in the presence of God disappears and when that disappears in the pulpit and that disappears from preacher then the church begins to go down. [00:99:82]

Whoever speaks must speak as if he's speaking the utterances of God that means it has to be as if God Himself is in the pulpit speaking if you meditate on that verse even for a few days it will put such a fear of God into you that you will never again get into a pulpit and say whatever you like. [00:261:50]

I was baptized in the spirit so many years ago means nothing we have to be filled with the spirit every day yeah, that's very very important because I feel that that is the only way we can prevent our churches from declining. [00:782:99]

But from heaven God will ask the Angels to count among these how many people are disciples how many are disciples of Jesus who love Jesus more than anything on this earth who love Jesus more than their property their job their position their money their bank account love Jesus more than their wife their children. [00:870:75]

The main sign that Jesus gave about the last days is deception that's why we keep on warning against deception in this in our church and in that connection I want to show you a verse which is very important in Matthew sorry 2nd Thessalonians in chapter 2 which I've taught in this church for 40 years. [01:104:03]

They did not receive the love of the truth they did not love the truth what does that mean that means if I see something which God shows me as the truth for example I read Scripture and I see something there and I say that's different from what I believed for so many years if I love the truth I'll change my view. [01:1188:95]

If you don't have a desire to be saved from sin desperately in your life I don't have a desire to be saved from anger at any cost, think of how much you're willing to pay a hospital if you were diagnosed with cancer and the doctor says it's going to be expensive the treatment otherwise you'll die or your child will die. [01:1421:15]

The first reason is he loved the father see what he says, so that John 14:30 one so that the world may know that I love the father I will do exactly as the father commanded me go let us go from here to where you read the rest of the chapters to the cross he was saying I want to do what my father's told me. [02:2010:07]

Beware if that fervent love for Christ decreases in your life and it becomes cold because the world is going in that direction it is very easy for that to happen to any of us we have to watch our hearts with all diligence and through the years the thing that has helped me is to meditate much on Jesus love for me. [02:2170:72]

I want to encourage you more than anything else dear brothers and sisters preserve your fervent love for Christ don't let your love for your parents come there between you and Christ don't let your love for your wife or your children or your job or money or any of these things come there because if you allow it to come I guarantee you will be deceived. [02:2258:29]

I pray that our churches will be like that otherwise I'll tell you the fear I have when you look at church history Martin Luther started the Lutheran Church john wesley started the Methodist Church William Booth started the Salvation Army any council group started the Pentecostal church the Brethren Assemblies started John Darby and Jane Darby and George Muller and all started the Brethren assemblies. [02:2797:71]

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Preaching with Reverence: Cultivating Fervent Love for Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Preaching as a Sacred Responsibility

Day 2: The Necessity of Continual Spiritual Renewal

Day 3: Guarding Against Deception

Day 4: Keeping Love for Christ Alive

Day 5: Overcoming Complacency in Faith

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Preaching with Reverence: Cultivating Fervent Love for Christ

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