Preparing for Glory: Faith, Unity, and Sacrifice
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the role of the congregation in growing the church. He underscores the importance of regular engagement with scripture, likening it to daily nourishment from the word of God. The pastor then transitions to the importance of being prepared for difficult times, using the analogy of building a boat even when it's not raining. He cites biblical examples, such as Joseph and the early church in Acts, to highlight the importance of preparation during times of plenty.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of being on fire for the Lord and not being lukewarm. He warns against complacency when things are going well, as it can lead to a lack of desperation for the Lord. He encourages the congregation to prioritize the Lord above all else. The pastor then discusses the importance of building a "house of Glory" to witness the manifestation of God's glory and experience an end-time revival. He acknowledges the various crises facing the nation but expresses a greater belief in the power of God's glory to bring about transformation.
The pastor then addresses the topic of unity and faith in relation to giving. He shares from personal experience that aligning one's life with God's kingdom and economy requires faith and spiritual sacrifice. He emphasizes that God's glory is connected to wealth and welfare, but not necessarily earthly wealth. The pastor then discusses the importance of experiencing the fullness of God's provision in every area of life. He shares examples of how the glory of God has been manifested throughout history and believes that God has this same glory for His people today.
The pastor then addresses the topic of finances and the arguments that often arise surrounding it. He encourages the congregation to study what the Lord says about tithing and offering, rather than solely focusing on the law. He emphasizes the significance of giving to the kingdom of God rather than worldly causes. The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of being a vessel without holes, meaning that we should not let the blessings and gifts that God has given us go to waste. He explains that as born-again Christians, we are all called to bring spiritual sacrifices before God.
Key Takeaways:
- Regular engagement with scripture is crucial for spiritual growth. Just as the Israelites received Manna daily, we need to receive bread from Heaven every single day. ([12:45])
- Preparation during times of plenty is essential for facing future challenges. Like Joseph who stored grain during the years of plenty, we should also prepare for difficult times. ([22:33])
- Prioritizing the Lord above all else is key to maintaining a fervent faith. Complacency can lead to a lack of desperation for the Lord, hence we should always put Him first in our lives. ([34:12])
- Giving is not just about the law, but about the rewards that God gives when we give. When we sow into the kingdom of God, we will reap in God's economy. ([49:33])
- As born-again Christians, we are called to bring spiritual sacrifices before God. These sacrifices include praise and worship, prayer, intercession, and giving finances to God's kingdom. ([58:45])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 3:16: "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
2. Luke 14:26: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple."
3. Haggai 2:6-9: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Revelation 3:16 say about the spiritual state of being lukewarm?
2. In Luke 14:26, what does it mean to 'hate' family members and even one's own life in the context of discipleship?
3. What promises does God make in Haggai 2:6-9 about the future glory of His house?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of being hot, cold, or lukewarm in Revelation 3:16 relate to our spiritual fervor and commitment to God?
2. What does Luke 14:26 suggest about the level of commitment and priority required to be a disciple of Jesus?
3. How does the prophecy in Haggai 2:6-9 about the future glory of God's house relate to our understanding of God's glory and provision?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your spiritual temperature. Are you hot, cold, or lukewarm in your relationship with God? What specific steps can you take to increase your spiritual fervor?
2. Considering Luke 14:26, is there anything or anyone you are prioritizing over your relationship with God? How can you realign your priorities this week?
3. In light of Haggai 2:6-9, how can you contribute to the building of God's house, both physically and spiritually, in your local community?
4. How can you demonstrate your faith in God's provision, as promised in Haggai 2:6-9, in your financial decisions this week?
5. What is one specific way you can prepare for future challenges, as Joseph did, in your current season of plenty?
Devotional
Day 1: Nourishing the Soul with Scripture
Engaging with scripture regularly is akin to feeding the soul with daily bread from Heaven. This spiritual nourishment is crucial for growth and sustenance in our walk with God. It is through this daily communion with the Word that we are able to understand God's will and purpose for our lives. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_e-C_7DKE&t=750s))
Deuteronomy 8:3 - "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Reflection: What is one scripture that has nourished your soul recently? How can you incorporate daily scripture reading into your routine?
Day 2: Preparing in Times of Plenty
Just as Joseph stored grain during the years of plenty, we too should prepare for difficult times during our seasons of abundance. This preparation is not just physical, but also spiritual, as we build our faith and trust in God. ([22:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_e-C_7DKE&t=1338s))
Proverbs 6:6-8 - "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest."
Reflection: What are some ways you can prepare spiritually during your current season of life?
Day 3: Prioritizing the Lord Above All
In all aspects of life, prioritizing the Lord above all else is key to maintaining a fervent faith. Complacency can lead to a lack of desperation for the Lord, hence we should always put Him first in our lives. ([34:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_e-C_7DKE&t=2037s))
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to prioritize God more? How can you make this change today?
Day 4: Sowing into God's Kingdom
Giving is not just about the law, but about the rewards that God gives when we sow into His kingdom. When we invest our resources into the kingdom of God, we reap blessings in God's economy. ([49:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_e-C_7DKE&t=2958s))
2 Corinthians 9:6 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
Reflection: How can you sow more generously into God's kingdom? What is one step you can take today to do so?
Day 5: Offering Spiritual Sacrifices
As born-again Christians, we are called to bring spiritual sacrifices before God. These sacrifices include praise and worship, prayer, intercession, and giving finances to God's kingdom. ([58:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_e-C_7DKE&t=3510s))
Hebrews 13:15 - "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name."
Reflection: What is one spiritual sacrifice you can offer to God today? How can you make this a regular practice in your life?
Quotes
"You need to gather six days but you need to eat the Manna every single day... every single day you need to receive bread from Heaven because the Bible says that we shall live by the word that comes out of the mouth of God." #!!01:44:00!!#
"We are the church that's supposed to be on fire... if we don't love much, it's because we don't realize that we've been forgiven much." #!!01:10:33!!#
"I believe uh not just that we should have a place of gathering but that the presence of the Lord should manifest we should be able to hear the Lord, we should be able to see the Lord and we should be able to feel the Lord and the way that he does certain things." #!!01:07:43!!#
"I believe that when some things are about to happen, God gives us more than enough time to prepare... we have to make sure that we are prepared for sure." #!!01:41:28!!#
"I'm asking you to study the Lord and what he says about this and what is the reward when we do it... when we give it will be given back unto us economically it makes no sense because when you give away you have less than you of a different kind of Kingdom a different kind of Lifestyle an honor a labor Style just as faith." #!!01:17:13!!#
"We've been talking about giving our time time and effort to build God's house and you cannot build God's house without getting rewarded because what you sow you will reap, it's that simple...there is a reward for being totally surrendered to the Lord...and what we need to understand is that there will still be more shaking, there will be more crisis to come and we must prepare for the times that there will be lack and one of the best ways of making sure that you have enough when there is a time of lack in the world is becoming part of God's economy" #!!01:21:28!!#
"If we would focus on building God's house, He would focus on building our house. There is a reward for being totally surrendered to the will of God." #!!01:15:46!!#
"I believe in the manifestation of God's glory not just through a few people but through the church because the Bible very clearly teaches us that we are vessels of his glory." #!!01:34:33!!#
"I don't want to have a bag with holes... I don't want to be a vessel that has holes in it right and and then everything that God gave just flows out and is wasted." #!!01:23:26!!#
"We are called to bring sacrifice in the Old Testament... it's that everyone was involved in building the Tabernacle or building the Temple." #!!01:26:26!!#
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