Rekindling Intimacy: Embracing Our Relationship with Jesus
Summary
Taking a moment to reflect on our journey with God, it's essential to consider the depth of our relationship with Jesus. Over time, the burdens of life and ministry can weigh us down, causing us to lose the joy and intimacy we once had with Him. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, focusing on productivity and effectiveness, and in doing so, we might inadvertently place these pursuits above our relationship with Jesus. This weekend, I urge you to pause and evaluate your closeness with God. If you find that your intimacy with Him has waned, it's time to strengthen what remains and is about to die.
The essence of discipleship is not just about teaching others but living a life that reflects a deep, personal connection with Jesus. If we are not walking closely with Him, why would we want to replicate that in others? Our example is powerful, and we cannot fake a relationship with God. This weekend, let's focus on rekindling our passion for Jesus, seeking His presence, and experiencing His love anew. Remember, we have direct access to God; we don't need intermediaries. Let's approach Him boldly, seeking a genuine encounter with the Holy Spirit.
In our pursuit of ministry and success, we must not lose sight of the gospel's beauty and grace. It's not about our achievements or good works; it's about the righteousness we receive through Christ. Like Paul, we must count all our accomplishments as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This weekend, let's taste and see the goodness of the Lord, allowing His grace to refresh and renew us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Intimacy with Jesus: Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. If you find that your intimacy with Him has diminished, take steps to strengthen what remains. It's crucial to maintain a close walk with God, as this forms the foundation of authentic discipleship. [06:11]
2. Direct Access to God: We live in a time where we have direct access to God, without the need for intermediaries. Embrace this privilege and seek a personal encounter with Him. Approach His throne with confidence, knowing that He desires a close relationship with you. [19:30]
3. The Beauty of the Gospel: Amidst our busy lives, we must pause to savor the beauty of the gospel. It's not about our works or achievements but about the grace and righteousness we receive through Christ. Let this truth refresh and renew your spirit. [27:17]
4. Strengthen What Remains: If you feel your faith or boldness waning, remember the encouragement to strengthen what remains. God sees the core of who you are and calls you to reignite your passion and love for Him. [16:55]
5. The Power of the Resurrection: Embrace the power of the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is a unique time where God's Spirit lives within us, empowering us to live righteously and influence others for His kingdom. [33:18]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Francis
[02:09] - A Man of Conviction
[03:17] - The Joy of Ministry
[04:40] - The Burden of Discipleship
[05:51] - Personal Relationship with Jesus
[07:21] - Rediscovering Intimacy
[09:04] - Courage and Criticism
[11:17] - A Father's Perspective
[13:27] - The Joy of Knowing Jesus
[15:26] - Strengthen What Remains
[18:03] - Direct Access to God
[22:15] - The Idol of Productivity
[25:32] - Understanding Grace
[33:18] - The Power of the Resurrection
[37:02] - Belief and Discipleship
[39:34] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 3:1-3
2. Philippians 3:7-11
3. Mark 14:34-36
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Observation Questions:
1. In Revelation 3:1-3, what does Jesus say to the church in Sardis about their reputation and spiritual state? How does this relate to the idea of "strengthening what remains"? [15:52]
2. According to Philippians 3:7-11, how does Paul describe his past achievements in comparison to knowing Christ? What does he consider as loss? [31:54]
3. In Mark 14:34-36, how does Jesus express His emotions and desires in the Garden of Gethsemane? What does this reveal about His relationship with the Father? [28:22]
4. During the sermon, what personal experiences did the pastor share about losing intimacy with God and how did he realize it? [14:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "strengthen what remains" in the context of one's spiritual life, and how can this be applied to modern-day believers? [16:38]
2. How does Paul's perspective on his achievements challenge the way we view success and productivity in our spiritual lives? [32:11]
3. What can we learn from Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane about surrendering our will to God's will, especially in times of distress? [29:34]
4. How does the pastor's reflection on his past intimacy with God serve as a warning or encouragement for believers today? [14:46]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. Are there areas where your intimacy with Him has diminished? What steps can you take this week to strengthen what remains? [06:11]
2. How can you embrace the privilege of direct access to God in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to approach His throne with confidence? [19:30]
3. In what ways have you been caught up in the busyness of life, potentially placing productivity above your relationship with Jesus? How can you realign your priorities to savor the beauty of the gospel? [22:30]
4. Consider the power of the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How can you allow this truth to empower you to live righteously and influence others for God's kingdom? [33:18]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel your faith or boldness is waning. What actions can you take to reignite your passion and love for God? [16:55]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced a deep connection with God. What factors contributed to that experience, and how can you recreate similar moments in your current spiritual journey? [14:11]
7. How can you ensure that your pursuit of ministry and success does not overshadow the grace and righteousness you receive through Christ? What changes might you need to make in your approach to serving God? [25:32]
Devotional
Day 1: Rekindling Intimacy with Jesus
Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus and consider if your intimacy with Him has diminished. Life's burdens and the demands of ministry can often lead to a loss of joy and closeness with God. It's crucial to pause and evaluate your spiritual journey, ensuring that your relationship with Jesus remains the foundation of your life. Authentic discipleship stems from a deep, personal connection with Him, and if this connection has weakened, it's time to take steps to strengthen what remains. Remember, your example is powerful, and you cannot fake a relationship with God. [06:11]
Revelation 3:2-3 (ESV): "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where your relationship with Jesus has waned. What practical steps can you take this week to rekindle your intimacy with Him?
Day 2: Embracing Direct Access to God
We live in a time where we have the incredible privilege of direct access to God, without the need for intermediaries. This access allows us to seek a personal encounter with Him, approaching His throne with confidence and boldness. God desires a close relationship with each of us, and it's essential to embrace this privilege fully. By seeking His presence and experiencing His love anew, we can deepen our connection with Him and live out our faith authentically. [19:30]
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: How can you intentionally approach God with confidence today, knowing that you have direct access to Him? What specific time and place will you set aside to seek His presence?
Day 3: Savoring the Beauty of the Gospel
In the midst of our busy lives, it's vital to pause and savor the beauty of the gospel. Our faith is not about our achievements or good works but about the grace and righteousness we receive through Christ. This truth should refresh and renew our spirits, reminding us of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Like Paul, we must count all our accomplishments as loss compared to the joy of knowing Jesus. Allow the gospel's beauty to transform your perspective and renew your passion for God. [27:17]
Philippians 3:8-9 (ESV): "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been relying on your own achievements rather than the grace of the gospel? How can you shift your focus to embrace the righteousness you receive through Christ?
Day 4: Strengthening What Remains
If you feel your faith or boldness waning, remember the encouragement to strengthen what remains. God sees the core of who you are and calls you to reignite your passion and love for Him. It's essential to recognize the areas in your life where your faith may be faltering and take intentional steps to strengthen them. By doing so, you can experience a renewed sense of purpose and joy in your walk with God. [16:55]
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV): "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your spiritual life that needs strengthening. What practical actions can you take this week to fan into flame the gift of God within you?
Day 5: Embracing the Power of the Resurrection
Embrace the power of the resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is a unique time where God's Spirit lives within us, empowering us to live righteously and influence others for His kingdom. The resurrection is not just a historical event but a present reality that transforms our lives. By embracing this power, we can experience the fullness of life that God intends for us and be a light to those around us. [33:18]
Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV): "And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places."
Reflection: How can you actively embrace the power of the resurrection in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to work through you to influence others for God's kingdom?
Quotes
I want to talk about your relationship with Jesus right now. I want to talk about you specifically. Forget about anyone your disciple does, just you. I want you to think through honestly, I mean honestly, if God were standing here and you had to give me the most honest assessment of your relationship with him, your intimacy with Jesus, what would you say? What would God say about your intimacy with him right now? [00:05:46]
If you're not walking closely, I mean you personally, I'm not talking about any gross sin or whatever else, although I'm sure there's some of that in this gathering, but what I'm talking about is just you. Are you intimate with Jesus? Are you close to him right now? Because if you're not, why make a disciple? Why would he want to of you? [00:06:13]
I know this is a discipleship weekend, but I want to talk about your relationship with Jesus right now. I want to talk about you specifically. Forget about anyone your disciple does, just you. I want you to think through honestly, I mean honestly, if God were standing here and you had to give me the most honest assessment of your relationship with him, your intimacy with Jesus, what would you say? [00:05:46]
I just kept hearing this voice in my head. I kept hearing Revelation 3:10 where he says strengthen what remains and is about to die. I kept hearing that phrase strengthen what remains and is about to die. That's when he was talking to the church in Sardis. Remember in Revelation 3 where he says to that church you have this reputation. [00:15:21]
Strengthen what remains and is about to die. Like strengthen that back up. And when I heard that phrase and I kept hearing it over and over was strengthen what remains in his mouth. It wasn't like a bashing. It wasn't like Jesus saying and for instance what's wrong with you your faith is about no it was a word of encouragement to me. [00:16:35]
We live in a very strange time and you are affected by it more than you realize. The church is very strange in America. It is very weird. We're in a time where people would rather meet with Moses than go on the mountaintop themselves. We want to meet like oh that speaker he knows God I want to can I take a selfie with you. [00:18:07]
You can actually go up the mountain right now and you want to talk to Moses and go man what was that like man you were right there I mean what it is voice sound like tell me teach me Moses TV look and the mountains right there and God saying you can walk up here and you'd rather talk to him but that's kind of the culture we've created. [00:18:34]
You have access to God now you don't need that priest you don't need that person you can go directly to him and that's what I'm praying for you this weekend that it's a time where you connect with God where you can see through the fog of everything's going on in our Christian subculture right now and go you know what that's right in Scripture. [00:19:29]
I just want to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. I just want to gaze at your beauty. I want to stare your beauty in the temple like David longed for God and and and we I'm not saying Solomon's prayer was wrong because obviously God said good things about it but look where it got him and and then look at David in his heart for the Lord. [00:23:25]
Do you get it do you get the gospel because sometimes people like us we work so much that we don't just enjoy the grace of God and God's not gonna honor that even though we think we might have good motives it's arrogance do you understand the grace of God the other day I was uh I was writing and I went went over to this house that I borrow. [00:25:30]
I just that was exactly what God had been teaching me that morning in his word about his gospel oh I don't just stop and taste it you know I don't just clear my mind and go oh good god are you kidding me you did that for me when's the last time you just heard the gospel and just that's the last time you took the bread in the cop and go oh yeah this is is amazing. [00:27:17]
Paul says that's what I want to know I want to know Christ I want to know the power of his resurrection the Fellowship of his sufferings I want to know him the power of the resurrection that we just celebrated on Sunday wasn't you Sunday yeah was your Sunday the power of the resurrection of just going okay this is not about you and me this is about everything that was prophesied. [00:33:18]
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