Ransom for the Ruined: Faith, Freedom, and Renewal

Devotional

Day 1: Our Identity in Christ Transcends Circumstances

Our lives are not defined by the temporary challenges we face but by our eternal position in Christ. This perspective allows us to see beyond the physical and embrace the spiritual renewal that occurs daily through our relationship with Jesus. While our outward bodies may deteriorate, our inward selves are constantly being renewed, reminding us of the eternal life promised to us. This renewal is a testament to the life that is not subject to the whims of disease or the schemes of the enemy. Our true identity and hope lie in the spiritual realm, where we are secure in Christ. [23:20]

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you focus more on your spiritual renewal rather than your physical circumstances today?

Day 2: Faith as Our Anchor in Trials

Like Job, we are called to maintain our faith amidst trials, trusting that God is our ultimate provider and protector. Job's story illustrates that true life is not bound by material possessions or physical health but is anchored in a relationship with God. Our trust in God should surpass our fear of loss, knowing that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. This faith over fear approach empowers us to face adversities with confidence, knowing that God is with us and for us. [26:30]

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one fear you can surrender to God today, trusting Him to be your strength and salvation?

Day 3: The Power of Community in Faith

The concept of atonement money teaches us the importance of communal support in faith. Every believer, regardless of their means, contributes to the body of Christ, ensuring that the church can fulfill its mission and support its members. This collective responsibility reminds us that we are not alone in our spiritual journey. We are part of a larger community that supports and uplifts one another, reflecting the love and unity that Christ desires for His church. [33:05]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the spiritual and physical needs of your church community this week?

Day 4: Pursuing Holiness in a Worldly Culture

We are encouraged to pursue holiness and provide wholesome activities for all age groups within the church. This involves creating environments that foster spiritual growth and community without succumbing to worldly influences. By embracing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, we can live lives that reflect God's holiness and love. This pursuit of holiness is a call to live differently, setting ourselves apart from the standards of the world and aligning ourselves with God's will. [35:33]

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to pursue holiness in your daily life?

Day 5: Christ's Sacrifice as Our Redemption

Jesus is the ultimate ransom for our souls, having paid the price for our redemption. His sacrifice offers us freedom from sin and death, calling us to live in the light of His grace and truth. This act of love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith, offering hope and redemption to all who believe. It is a call to live a life of holiness, not conforming to worldly standards but embracing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. [49:35]

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live in the light of Christ's sacrifice today, embracing the freedom and redemption He offers?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound concept of "Ransom for the Ruined," emphasizing the spiritual truth that our lives are not dictated by the adversities we face, but are secured in Christ. The notion of ransom, as a payment made to set captives free, serves as a powerful metaphor for the salvation and liberation offered through Jesus Christ. We delved into the biblical examples of Job and the woman with the issue of blood, illustrating how faith in God transcends earthly trials and tribulations. Job, despite losing everything, remained steadfast in his faith, demonstrating that true life is not bound by material possessions or physical health but is anchored in a relationship with God.

The sermon also highlighted the importance of recognizing the spiritual over the physical. While our outward bodies may perish, our inward selves are renewed daily through Christ. This renewal is a testament to the eternal life promised to us, a life that is not subject to the whims of disease or the schemes of the enemy. The ransom paid by Christ is not just for our physical well-being but for our souls, ensuring that we are not left in the hands of the enemy but are redeemed and restored.

Furthermore, we discussed the significance of communal responsibility in faith, as seen in the atonement money collected from the Israelites. This act of giving, regardless of one's wealth, symbolizes the collective effort required to sustain and grow in faith. It reminds us that every believer has a role in the body of Christ, contributing to the spiritual and physical needs of the community.

Lastly, we were reminded of the ultimate ransom paid by Jesus, who gave His life for all humanity. This act of love and sacrifice is the cornerstone of our faith, offering hope and redemption to all who believe. It is a call to live a life of holiness, not conforming to worldly standards but embracing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. Eternal Perspective: Our lives are not defined by temporary circumstances but by our eternal position in Christ. The outward man may perish, but the inward man is renewed daily, reminding us that our true identity and hope lie in the spiritual realm. [23:20]
2. Faith Over Fear: Like Job, we are called to maintain our faith amidst trials. Our trust in God should surpass our fear of loss, knowing that He is our ultimate provider and protector, and that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. [26:30]
3. Collective Responsibility: The concept of atonement money teaches us the importance of communal support in faith. Every believer, regardless of their means, contributes to the body of Christ, ensuring that the church can fulfill its mission and support its members. [33:05]
4. Holiness and Wholesome Living: We are encouraged to pursue holiness and provide wholesome activities for all age groups within the church. This involves creating environments that foster spiritual growth and community without succumbing to worldly influences. [35:33]
5. Christ as Our Ransom: Jesus is the ultimate ransom for our souls, having paid the price for our redemption. His sacrifice offers us freedom from sin and death, calling us to live in the light of His grace and truth. [49:35]
** [49:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:20] - Eternal Perspective
[26:30] - Faith Over Fear
[28:30] - The Great Physician
[30:30] - Ransom for the Soul
[33:05] - Atonement Money
[35:33] - Holiness and Wholesome Living
[37:45] - Power of Prayer
[40:39] - God’s Discipline and Dreams
[42:39] - Joseph’s Dreams
[44:48] - Physical Trials and Faith
[47:14] - Personal Reflection
[49:35] - Christ as Our Ransom
[52:42] - Renewed Strength
[55:11] - Confession and Redemption
[57:19] - God’s Active Work
[58:58] - Ransom for All

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does the concept of "ransom" mean in the context of Exodus 30:12, and how was it applied to the Israelites? [33:05]
How does the story of Job illustrate the idea of faith over fear, especially in the face of adversity? [26:30]
In Job 33:14-30, how does God communicate with man, and what is the significance of a "ransom" in this passage? [40:39]
According to Matthew 20:28, what was the purpose of Jesus' coming, and how does it relate to the idea of ransom? [01:01:20]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of ransom in Exodus 30:12 reflect the communal responsibility of faith within the church? [33:05]
What lessons can be drawn from Job's response to his trials about maintaining faith amidst fear and loss? [26:30]
How does the renewal of the inward self, as mentioned in Job 33:14-30, relate to the promise of eternal life in Christ? [40:39]
What does Jesus' role as a ransom for many in Matthew 20:28 teach us about the nature of His sacrifice and our response to it? [01:01:20]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you faced adversity. How did your faith in God help you navigate that situation? What can you learn from Job's steadfastness? [26:30]
In what ways can you contribute to the communal responsibility of faith in your church, similar to the atonement money in Exodus 30:12? [33:05]
How can you focus on the renewal of your inward self daily, despite the challenges you face in your outward life? What practices can help you maintain this focus? [23:20]
Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. How does this truth impact your daily life and interactions with others? [01:01:20]
Consider the role of faith over fear in your life. Are there areas where fear is holding you back from fully trusting God? How can you address these fears? [26:30]
How can you create or participate in wholesome activities within your church that promote spiritual growth and community? [35:33]
Identify one person in your life who may not know about the ransom Jesus paid. How can you share this message of hope and redemption with them this week? [01:01:20]

Sermon Clips

"It doesn't matter what the symptoms or circumstances look like, God is still faithful. Because all these other things are temporary. And Paul didn't even say, well, I'll tell you, all these temporary things, we'll just fix it. No, he said, and he said, and he said, and he said, the things that we're looking at are temporary. The things that we don't see in the temporary, the things that we don't see in the temporary are perishing. The outward man is perishing. If you don't believe that, you just keep watching that, you'll find out that the outward man is perishing. But the inward man is being renewed. And that's why we're affected by that, and that's why we're affected by the physical body, but that's not all of us. That's not the real us." [00:21:31] (83 seconds)

"Our life is not determined by what Satan wants to do, what disease and sickness wants to do. Our life is here with Christ in God. Our life has something that is in this session today called ransom. Ransom, a ransom, and the subject is ransom for the ruined. We were certainly ruined, all right, but we have a ransom. Ransom for the ruined. A simple definition of ransom is payment made to set the captive free. When you're in captivity, they, hostage or whatever you want to call it, they usually demand payment. And the payment that is demanded to set the captive free is called ransom." [00:23:20] (52 seconds)

"And Job gave it all. He gave it up. He didn't want to. He didn't ask to be treated that way. But the enemy, the evil one, was allowed to go in and take everything that he had. And so he gave it. You'll give anything you have for your health. The woman in the Bible with the issue of blood, she had spent everything that she had. And she didn't get any better. But she got worse. But then she heard about Jesus. And when she came to Jesus, she found that if she touched the hem of his gun, she'd be made completely whole. And she touched him, and she was made whole." [00:26:04] (39 seconds)

"There is a ransom for your soul. The soul is the precious part of a person. We are a spirit. We have a soul. And we live in a body. This body contains your soul. When Jesus saves you, he saves your soul. He changes your spirit. Your spirit is perfect with the Lord. Now, you're not perfect. Sinless perfection. But your spirit is perfect with the Lord. And your soul is hanging in the balance. But when you get saved, your soul is not hanging in the balance anymore." [00:29:06] (40 seconds)

"This atonement money was used to put into the temple treasury, where the Levites and the priesthood would have some revenue to be able to work with. They had come out of the land of Egypt, and they had given the offerings and made the tabernacle of the congregation, and now they needed some money to have it to be able to operate. You have to buy oil, you have to buy a sacrifice, you have to buy these things, and of course the children of Israel would give that, the oil, and they would give different things. But you had to have money to be able, just like church now. I know we live by faith, but banks don't operate by faith." [00:31:56] (43 seconds)

"If we were where we should be as a church, when the young people and the old people and the ones in between got together, we'd be talking about the things of God so much, we wouldn't have time for this other earthly and worldly entertainment. You have to halfway entertain people in the flesh in the world to keep them in church. We need to be about the Spirit of God. Holiness. How in the world can we promote holiness while at the same time promoting the culture that we live in and worldly entertainment?" [00:34:01] (35 seconds)

"Do you know that if you pray for people who, as we might say it like this, if you have people that have nobody to pray for them, you may not know who they are individually, but there are people in this world who you feel like there's nobody just praying for them specifically. If you pray and you say, Lord, I pray for those who have nobody to pray for them. I pray for the sick, I pray for the lost, I pray for the poor. In other words, I pray the lost would be saved, I pray the sick would be healed, and I pray the hungry would be filled." [00:36:52] (38 seconds)

"Jesus Christ is a ransom for our life. He's a ransom for our soul. He's a ransom for us. He's the only one that we can trust in to deliver us and to save us in the mess that we're in. Christ is our ransom. He's the one who will save you. He's the one who paid the price. He's the one who shed his blood. He's the one who took your punishment upon himself. He's the one who died and rose again. He's the one who reigns on high." [00:51:30] (34 seconds)

"Lo, all these things work with God, oftentimes with me. God deals with us. We think God's not doing anything. I mean, I told the Lord, I told him, he's my friend. And I said, Lord, I believe you done hid your hands in your pocket. What's the matter with your hands, Lord? Are you sitting on your hands on your throne? I mean, I know it sounds sarcastic to you and I'm sorry about that, but the Lord knows my heart. He knows in my heart I really don't believe in. But sometimes you feel what you don't believe." [00:56:54] (39 seconds)

"God is not a dead God. God is a God who's moving and working to bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightened with the light of the living. Thank God it is so much easier now under the new covenant where we have the dwelling Holy Ghost and the truth of God's Word. We don't have to guess because of a dream. We don't have to guess because of a vision. The dreams and visions we have now is supposed to be because of the results of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost." [00:58:12] (35 seconds)

"Jesus is the payment and the ransom for all of us. Matthew chapter 20 verse 28 even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10 45 says basically the same thing. For even the son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. 1 Timothy 2 6 who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time and the time now is due time. It's a time to be testifying." [01:01:29] (38 seconds)

"All do not love Jesus but he paid the ransom for them all anyway. He knew that everybody would not love him but he still paid the price for every one of them. Our Father we thank you for this service. Lord we thank you for the courage and encouragement that this service has ministered to every one of us. From the note that our sister pastor started playing from the very beginning to the end we thank you Lord the anointing we thank you for the manifest anointing of your presence around the altar and the prayers and the time of the singing and the worship and the preaching of your word. We thank you for what you have done we bless you Lord for it in Jesus name. Amen. Amen." [01:02:24] (52 seconds)

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