Prioritizing God: Commitment Over Convenience in Faith

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, it's crucial to prioritize making time for God. As we embark on this new year, we are reminded of the importance of shifting our priorities and commitments to ensure that God remains at the center of our lives. The story of Felix in Acts 24 serves as a poignant reminder that serving God is not about convenience but about commitment and sacrifice. Felix postponed his decision to follow Christ, waiting for a "convenient season," a mistake we must avoid in our spiritual walk. Serving God requires stepping out of our comfort zones and making deliberate choices to prioritize our relationship with Him.

God is drawing us closer to fulfill His will, and it is essential to reassess our schedules and lifestyles to align with His purpose. As we become servants of the Most High, we must dedicate time to worship and seek His presence. This relationship with God transforms Him into our Heavenly Father, and we must nurture it by spending quality time in His presence. It's not enough to go through the motions; we must genuinely engage with God, allowing Him to speak to our hearts and guide us.

The world is filled with distractions, and it's easy to become too busy for God. However, we must resist the temptation to prioritize worldly pursuits over our spiritual growth. Our relationship with God should be a sweet-smelling sacrifice, well-pleasing to Him. We must seize the opportunity to serve God wholeheartedly, recognizing that He has saved us from the world and desires a deeper connection with us.

As we make time for God, we must also be aware of the things that hinder our spiritual growth, such as being phony or superficial in our devotion. True worship requires sincerity and focus, leaving behind distractions and engaging fully with God. By doing so, we can maintain our enthusiasm and commitment to His work throughout the year.

Key Takeaways:

- Serving God requires commitment and sacrifice, not convenience. Like Felix, we must avoid postponing our spiritual decisions and instead prioritize our relationship with God, stepping out of our comfort zones to serve Him wholeheartedly. [04:53]

- God is drawing us closer to fulfill His will, and we must reassess our schedules and lifestyles to align with His purpose. Our relationship with God transforms Him into our Heavenly Father, and we must nurture it by spending quality time in His presence. [06:55]

- The world is filled with distractions, but we must resist the temptation to prioritize worldly pursuits over our spiritual growth. Our relationship with God should be a sweet-smelling sacrifice, well-pleasing to Him, as we seize the opportunity to serve Him wholeheartedly. [11:18]

- True worship requires sincerity and focus, leaving behind distractions and engaging fully with God. By doing so, we can maintain our enthusiasm and commitment to His work throughout the year, ensuring that we stay in His presence and fulfill His purpose. [23:50]

- Making time for God involves allowing Him to speak to our hearts and guide us. We must resist the temptation to rush through our devotions and instead engage in meaningful conversations with God, allowing Him to address the areas in our lives that need transformation. [27:29]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:06] - Introduction to Acts 24
[04:53] - The Year of Change
[06:55] - Making Time for God
[09:48] - Serving God with Commitment
[11:18] - Seizing Opportunities to Serve
[14:38] - Discovering Your Role as a Servant
[18:36] - Prioritizing God in Daily Life
[23:50] - Engaging in True Worship
[25:43] - Overcoming Distractions
[27:29] - Allowing God to Speak
[30:46] - Challenges in Making Time for God
[34:49] - Staying Excited for God
[36:00] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Acts 24:24-27
- Jeremiah 31:3
- Philippians 4:8

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Felix's response when he heard Paul speak about faith in Christ, and what did he decide to do? ([02:06])
2. How does the sermon describe the importance of making time for God in our daily lives? ([04:53])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our schedules and our spiritual growth? ([06:55])
4. According to the sermon, what are some distractions that can hinder our relationship with God? ([23:50])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Felix's decision to wait for a "convenient season" reflect common attitudes towards spiritual commitments today? ([04:53])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God is drawing us closer to fulfill His will? How does this relate to Jeremiah 31:3? ([06:55])
3. What does it mean for our relationship with God to be a "sweet-smelling sacrifice," as mentioned in Philippians 4:8? ([11:18])
4. How does the sermon define true worship, and why is sincerity important in our devotion to God? ([23:50])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current schedule. Are there specific activities or commitments that you need to reassess to prioritize your relationship with God? ([06:55])
2. Identify a distraction in your life that often takes precedence over your spiritual growth. What steps can you take this week to minimize its impact? ([23:50])
3. Think about a time when you postponed a spiritual decision, like Felix. What was the outcome, and how can you avoid making similar choices in the future? ([04:53])
4. How can you create a dedicated time for worship and prayer in your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to ensure this time is meaningful? ([09:48])
5. Consider your current relationship with God. In what ways can you deepen this relationship to experience Him as your Heavenly Father? ([06:55])
6. What does it mean for you personally to serve God wholeheartedly? Identify one area in your life where you can step out of your comfort zone to serve Him better. ([11:18])
7. How can you ensure that your worship is sincere and focused, rather than just going through the motions? What practical steps can you take to engage more fully with God during your devotions? ([23:50])

Devotional

Day 1: Commitment Over Convenience
In our spiritual journey, serving God requires a commitment that transcends convenience. The story of Felix in Acts 24 illustrates the danger of postponing spiritual decisions for a more "convenient season." Felix's hesitation serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that our relationship with God should not be subject to our comfort or convenience. Instead, we are called to step out of our comfort zones and make deliberate choices to prioritize our relationship with God. This involves a willingness to sacrifice personal ease for the sake of spiritual growth and service. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and experience the fullness of His presence in our lives. [04:53]

Acts 24:24-25 (ESV): "After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, 'Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been postponing a spiritual decision? How can you take a step today to prioritize your relationship with God in that area?


Day 2: Aligning with God's Purpose
God is drawing us closer to fulfill His will, and this requires a reassessment of our schedules and lifestyles. As we become servants of the Most High, we must dedicate time to worship and seek His presence. This relationship with God transforms Him into our Heavenly Father, and nurturing it involves spending quality time in His presence. It's not enough to go through the motions; we must genuinely engage with God, allowing Him to speak to our hearts and guide us. By aligning our lives with His purpose, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His love and guidance. [06:55]

Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Reflection: How can you rearrange your daily schedule to ensure you are spending quality time with God? What specific changes can you make to align your life more closely with His purpose?


Day 3: Resisting Worldly Distractions
The world is filled with distractions that can easily lead us away from our spiritual growth. However, we must resist the temptation to prioritize worldly pursuits over our relationship with God. Our spiritual journey should be a sweet-smelling sacrifice, well-pleasing to Him. By seizing the opportunity to serve God wholeheartedly, we acknowledge that He has saved us from the world and desires a deeper connection with us. This requires a conscious effort to focus on what truly matters and to let go of distractions that hinder our spiritual progress. [11:18]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Identify one worldly distraction that often takes your focus away from God. What steps can you take today to minimize its impact on your spiritual life?


Day 4: Engaging in True Worship
True worship requires sincerity and focus, leaving behind distractions and engaging fully with God. It's not about going through the motions but about genuinely connecting with the Divine. By doing so, we maintain our enthusiasm and commitment to His work throughout the year. This involves a heartfelt dedication to worship, where we allow God to speak to our hearts and guide us. True worship transforms our relationship with God, ensuring that we stay in His presence and fulfill His purpose. [23:50]

Psalm 86:11-12 (ESV): "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever."

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your worship experience to ensure it is sincere and focused? How can you create an environment that fosters true worship in your daily life?


Day 5: Allowing God to Speak
Making time for God involves allowing Him to speak to our hearts and guide us. We must resist the temptation to rush through our devotions and instead engage in meaningful conversations with God. This means creating space for God to address the areas in our lives that need transformation. By doing so, we open ourselves to His wisdom and guidance, allowing Him to shape us into the people He has called us to be. This intentional engagement with God is crucial for our spiritual growth and fulfillment of His purpose in our lives. [27:29]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Reflection: How can you create more space in your daily routine to listen to God's voice? What specific practices can you incorporate to ensure you are open to His guidance and transformation?

Quotes

"And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, which was a Jewish, and sent for Paul, he heard concerning the faith in Christ. And in reason of the righteousness and temperance and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and as to go thy way, for this time, when I have convenient season, I will call for thee." [00:03:23] (20 seconds)


"God is drawing us closer to do his will. And we've got to make sure that we set aside that time to spend with God to know what God wants us to do. It's my experience when we deal with people, this is one of the first things we have to help people out because they're so busy with the work, they've got family, and they've got all these things on their agenda already." [00:06:55] (19 seconds)


"You have to seize the opportunity and make up your mind that you are a servant of God. And just a bit, I'm going to ask everybody, what type of servant they see themselves being. There is people that are good at talking to other folks. There's people that are good at organizing. There's people that are good at encouraging. There are those that are prayer warriors and pray protection over others." [00:10:46] (21 seconds)


"That's the type of life that God wants us to have. A life that's well pleasing unto Him. Just because you have a Bible at home and you read it every now and then, doesn't mean that you're right with God. You know you're right with God when that relationship with God is as it should be. And so we want to begin to start developing that opportunity and spend time with God, seizing that opportunity, if you will, to be right with God." [00:11:38] (23 seconds)


"You have to, with everything within you, serve God. Making God a priority. Draw a night to God and making that quality time with God. When you pray, sometimes you're rushing through prayer. Anybody ever try to rush through prayer or rush through, vibrating when you're running late or maybe you haven't, you're tired, but you're trying to get your chapters in for that day." [00:23:12] (22 seconds)


"When you pray and you're doing your devotions, it's not just, oh God bless me, thank you for all that you've done this day, amen, have a good night. You didn't give God a chance to talk to you. And we have to take that time and allow God to speak to us, making that time for God. We're going to talk, but then we also have to let God talk to us." [00:23:50] (18 seconds)


"There may be some things going on in your life that you really got to open up about that job you're trying to get or that new car you want to buy, and God wants to talk about this situation over here. Well, God, that's okay. I already dealt with that. Can I get this new car? And God wants to deal with that problem." [00:24:47] (14 seconds)


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Transcript
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