Seeing Beyond Familiarity: Embracing the Bread of Life

Devotional

Day 1: Familiarity Can Obscure Divine Truths

Description: The religious leaders in John 6 struggled to recognize Jesus' divine nature because they were overly familiar with His human origins. This familiarity created a barrier that prevented them from seeing the full truth of who Jesus was. Similarly, in our own lives, we can become so accustomed to certain aspects of our faith or the people around us that we miss the divine truths God is revealing through them. It is crucial to remain open and attentive to God's work in the ordinary and familiar aspects of our lives. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of His presence and activity in our daily experiences. [01:12:28]

John 1:10-11 (ESV): "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."

Reflection: Think of a person or situation in your life that you have become overly familiar with. How might God be working through that person or situation in ways you have not yet recognized? Ask God to open your eyes to see His hand in the familiar.

Day 2: The Divine Draw

Description: Jesus explains that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father. This divine draw is a powerful testament to God's relentless pursuit of us. Even in our darkest moments, God's Spirit reaches out to us, drawing us closer to Him. This divine initiative underscores the personal nature of God's call and His desire for a relationship with us. It is a reminder that our journey of faith is not solely dependent on our efforts but is initiated and sustained by God's grace and love. [01:14:02]

Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV): "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How did you experience His divine draw during that period? What steps can you take today to respond to His relentless pursuit of you?

Day 3: The Promise of Eternal Life

Description: Jesus offers a promise of eternal life to those who believe in Him. This promise is not just about physical sustenance but spiritual nourishment that leads to eternal life. The manna in the wilderness was a temporary provision, but Jesus, the true bread from heaven, offers eternal sustenance. This highlights the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment from Jesus, who provides us with the sustenance we need for our spiritual journey and eternal life. [01:21:16]

John 6:51 (ESV): "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

Reflection: In what ways are you seeking spiritual nourishment in your daily life? How can you prioritize spending time with Jesus, the true bread from heaven, to receive the sustenance He offers?

Day 4: Spiritual Insight Over Physical Sight

Description: Physical sight and hearing do not equate to spiritual insight and understanding. We must pray for God to open the eyes of our hearts so that we can truly see and understand His will for our lives. This spiritual insight allows us to recognize God's presence and work in our lives, even in the mundane and ordinary. By seeking spiritual insight, we can align our lives more closely with God's purposes and experience the fullness of His guidance and blessings. [01:27:44]

Ephesians 1:17-18 (ESV): "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you need greater spiritual insight. Pray for God to enlighten the eyes of your heart and reveal His will and presence in that area.

Day 5: God's Relentless Pursuit

Description: God's Spirit draws us to Him, even when we are in our darkest places. This relentless pursuit is a testament to God's love and grace. No matter where we are or what we are going through, God's Spirit is always reaching out to us, offering us hope and a new beginning. This divine draw is a powerful reminder of God's unwavering love for us and His desire to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. [01:14:53]

Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV): "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt pursued by God's love and grace. How did that experience impact your relationship with Him? How can you remain open to His relentless pursuit in your current circumstances?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today's message centers on the theme "Blind to the Bread," drawn from John 6:35 and 41-50. Jesus declares Himself as the "bread of life," a profound statement that the religious leaders of His time struggled to accept due to their familiarity with His human origins. This familiarity blinded them to His divine nature. The sermon emphasizes that just because people have physical sight or hearing does not mean they have spiritual insight or understanding.

The message challenges us to recognize that God often works in the ordinary and familiar, and we must be open to seeing His hand in all aspects of life. It also highlights the divine draw, the irresistible pull of God's Spirit that brings us to Him, even when we are in our darkest places. This divine draw is a testament to God's relentless pursuit of us, regardless of our circumstances.

Furthermore, the sermon underscores the promise of eternal life that Jesus offers. This promise is not just about physical sustenance but spiritual nourishment that leads to eternal life. The manna in the wilderness was a temporary provision, but Jesus, the true bread from heaven, offers eternal sustenance. The message calls us to move beyond our preconceived notions and familiarity to truly see and believe in Jesus, thereby experiencing the fullness of life He offers.

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Key Takeaways

1. Familiarity Can Blind Us to Divine Truths: The religious leaders in John 6 were unable to see Jesus' divine nature because they were too familiar with His human origins. This teaches us that our preconceived notions and familiarity with certain aspects of faith can prevent us from seeing the full truth. We must remain open to recognizing God's work in the ordinary and familiar. [72:28]
2. The Divine Draw: Jesus explains that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father. This divine draw is a powerful testament to God's relentless pursuit of us. Even in our darkest moments, God's Spirit reaches out to us, drawing us closer to Him. This divine initiative underscores the personal nature of God's call and His desire for a relationship with us. [74:02]
3. The Promise of Eternal Life: Jesus offers a promise of eternal life to those who believe in Him. This promise is not just about physical sustenance but spiritual nourishment that leads to eternal life. The manna in the wilderness was a temporary provision, but Jesus, the true bread from heaven, offers eternal sustenance. This highlights the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment from Jesus. [81:16]
4. Spiritual Insight Over Physical Sight: Physical sight and hearing do not equate to spiritual insight and understanding. We must pray for God to open the eyes of our hearts so that we can truly see and understand His will for our lives. This spiritual insight allows us to recognize God's presence and work in our lives, even in the mundane and ordinary. [87:44]
5. God's Relentless Pursuit: God's Spirit draws us to Him, even when we are in our darkest places. This relentless pursuit is a testament to God's love and grace. No matter where we are or what we are going through, God's Spirit is always reaching out to us, offering us hope and a new beginning. This divine draw is a powerful reminder of God's unwavering love for us. [01:14:53]
### [74:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[52:40] - Opening Prayer
[53:18] - Introduction and Greeting
[54:31] - Honoring the Pastor and Family
[55:32] - Scripture Reading: John 6:35, 41-50
[57:04] - Jesus, the Bread of Life
[58:40] - Blind to the Bread
[60:48] - The Illusion of Social Media
[62:25] - The Decision to Worship
[63:31] - Chasing the Wind
[64:16] - Missing the Moment
[65:06] - Defining Ourselves to the Confused
[65:47] - Seeing Jesus Rightly
[67:18] - Thirst and Hunger in John’s Gospel
[68:01] - The Woman at the Well
[69:34] - The Stumbling Block of Familiarity
[73:06] - The Divine Draw
[80:42] - The Promise of Eternal Life
[87:44] - Spiritual Insight Over Physical Sight
[96:03] - Serving God with Gladness
[97:15] - Closing Remarks and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did Jesus mean when He declared, "I am the bread of life"? How did the religious leaders react to this statement? [57:04]
According to the sermon, why were the religious leaders unable to recognize Jesus' divine nature? [01:12:28]
What is the significance of the "divine draw" mentioned in John 6:44? How does this concept relate to the sermon? [01:13:06]
How does Jesus contrast the manna in the wilderness with Himself as the true bread from heaven? [01:21:16]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think familiarity with Jesus' human origins blinded the religious leaders to His divine nature? How can this apply to our own lives? [01:12:28]
What does the "divine draw" tell us about God's initiative in our relationship with Him? How does this affect our understanding of free will and divine grace? [01:14:02]
How does the promise of eternal life offered by Jesus differ from the temporary provision of manna in the wilderness? What does this teach us about spiritual nourishment? [01:21:16]
The sermon mentions that physical sight and hearing do not equate to spiritual insight and understanding. How can we cultivate spiritual insight in our daily lives? [01:27:44]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when familiarity with a person or situation prevented you from seeing a deeper truth. How can you remain open to recognizing God's work in the ordinary and familiar aspects of your life? [01:12:28]
Have you ever experienced the "divine draw" in your life, where you felt God's Spirit pulling you closer to Him? Share that experience and how it impacted your faith journey. [01:14:02]
Jesus offers a promise of eternal life that goes beyond physical sustenance. What steps can you take to seek spiritual nourishment from Jesus on a daily basis? [01:21:16]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual insight over physical sight. What practices can you incorporate into your life to pray for and develop spiritual insight? [01:27:44]
God's relentless pursuit of us is a testament to His love and grace. How can you respond to this divine pursuit in your current circumstances, especially if you are in a dark place? [01:14:53]
The sermon challenges us to move beyond preconceived notions and familiarity to truly see and believe in Jesus. What preconceived notions or familiarities might be hindering your faith, and how can you address them? [01:12:28]
How can you actively seek to recognize and celebrate God's presence and work in the mundane and ordinary aspects of your life this week? [01:12:28]

Sermon Clips

1. "I want to tell you that there is a real reality that we all have senses that sometimes we don't use correctly. God is standing right in front of the people in our text but they are not able to see him. There is a disappointment that comes with thinking you really know someone." [58:40] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The danger of social media is that it gives us the illusion that what we see from a person we follow we know so as a result we come with our criticizing opinions our daring comments for people we don't even know people that don't have our phone numbers people that don't know where we live people that don't know our church people that don't even know our names." [01:00:48] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You owe it to yourself not to be stuck you owe it to yourself to reinvent yourself you owe it to yourself to be able at any given moment to change who you were that's why people can't understand why you came to church today because you made a decision on Sunday morning that I'm going to the house of God in spite of where they saw me last week in spite of what they saw me last night I woke up this morning with the mind and a heart purpose to get to the house of worship." [01:02:25] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "A lot of us in this room are chasing what they're doing to the extent that we don't know what God's plan is for our lives. So we're looking at lyrics or songs to tell us our identity when we don't read our Bible to know that we're fearfully and wonderfully made by God. We don't know our word to know that God has a purpose for our lives, that God has called us out to be a holy nation, a royal priesthood. We don't know our identity because we're looking in all the wrong places." [01:03:31] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Seeing Jesus rightly leads to believing in Jesus deeply. Our text, John shows up, tells us throughout his gospel that Jesus really is fully human, but fully divine. John is on a mission, church, to show us that Jesus does more than just give us miracles. He challenges us to live a different life." [01:05:47] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The hardest people to impress will be people that already think they know who you are, because they know where you were born, because they know your parents, because they know your family lineage. They already think they know all God has to you." [01:10:21] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "I want to tell you church that it's no secret for some of us in this room today that the only reason we're here on a Sunday morning in the summertime is because his spirit drew us. The only reason you had a mind to come to worship is because his spirit said, get up and come to my house. The only reason you got a mind to serve the Lord is because he found you." [01:13:32] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "He found me when I didn't even know myself. He found me in places I didn't want to be seen. He found me in places I was in disguise. He found me and right where I was, I felt his spirit tugging on me with a drink in my hand. I heard the voice of God speaking out to me, telling me that I got work for you to do." [01:14:02] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Just because you're here, don't mean you're listening. Just because you're here, don't mean you're receiving. Just because you're here, don't mean you're open. Jesus is communicating through this metaphor of manna how to highlight the important idea of Jesus being the word that is life-giving. Jesus is the word that gives us life when everything else doesn't." [01:23:03] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Every time I think I've seen all of God, he shows a new side of himself. Every time I think that I know all God has to say, he speaks something new. Every time I think I've heard everything there is to hear out of a text, God speaks through his spirit and he breathes life to it." [01:24:37] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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