Seeking God: Embracing His Promises and Power

Devotional

Day 1: The Reward of Diligent Seeking

True faith involves believing that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. This requires us to abandon excuses and acknowledge our need to seek God wholeheartedly, recognizing that our spiritual progress is directly linked to our pursuit of Him. Often, we find ourselves attributing others' spiritual growth to their unique gifts or callings, while neglecting our own responsibility to seek God with diligence. This tendency to make excuses is a remnant of the Adamic nature, which hinders our spiritual growth. By adopting a posture of humility and acknowledging our shortcomings, we can earnestly seek God with all our hearts, trusting in His promise to reward our efforts. [01:18]

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Reflection: What excuses have you been making for your lack of spiritual progress? How can you begin to seek God more diligently today?

Day 2: Participating in God's Plans

God has specific plans for each of us, plans for our welfare and a future filled with hope. However, these plans require our active participation and a willingness to seek God with all our hearts, trusting that He will fulfill His promises. It is not enough to passively wait for God's plans to unfold; we must actively call upon Him and seek His guidance. This involves a willingness to pay the price, whatever it may be, to pursue the life God has intended for us. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purposes and experience the fullness of His promises. [07:29]

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV): "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to actively participate in God's plans for your life? How can you seek Him with all your heart?

Day 3: Living in Resurrection Power

The resurrection of Jesus signifies victory over spiritual death. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome spiritual death and live a life of resurrection power, transforming us from the inside out. This power is not about adhering to rules but experiencing the life of Christ within us. By embracing the resurrection power, we can live victoriously, free from the bondage of sin and spiritual death. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to live a life that reflects the resurrection of Jesus, experiencing His presence and power in our daily lives. [18:29]

Romans 6:4 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience the resurrection power of Jesus? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out?

Day 4: Revelation through Fellowship

Spiritual growth often comes through revelation, not just intellectual understanding. By valuing fellowship with other believers, we enrich our spiritual journey and grow in our understanding of God's love and power. It is through the insights and experiences of others that we gain a deeper revelation of spiritual truths. This revelation is not merely about intellectual knowledge but a heart-level understanding that transforms our lives. By engaging in fellowship with other believers, we open ourselves to the revelation that comes through the body of Christ, enhancing our spiritual growth and understanding. [23:28]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: How can you engage more deeply in fellowship with other believers to gain spiritual revelation? What steps can you take to value and learn from the insights of others?

Day 5: Understanding God's Riches in Us

God considers us His riches, having paid the ultimate price through Jesus' sacrifice. Understanding this truth changes our perspective on the Christian life, motivating us to live wholeheartedly for God, knowing that we are deeply valued by Him. This realization should inspire us to live in a way that reflects our worth in God's eyes, embracing our identity as His treasured possession. By recognizing the value God places on us, we are encouraged to live a life that honors Him, fully embracing the purpose and calling He has for us. [39:17]

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV): "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: How does understanding your value in God's eyes change the way you live your life? What steps can you take to live in a way that reflects your worth as God's treasured possession?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, it's crucial to recognize that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. This truth challenges us to examine our lives and question whether we truly believe this promise. Often, we make excuses for our lack of spiritual progress, attributing others' growth to their unique calling or gifts, rather than acknowledging our own lack of diligence in seeking God. This tendency to make excuses is a remnant of the Adamic nature, which hinders our spiritual growth. Instead, we should adopt a posture of humility, acknowledging our shortcomings and earnestly seeking God with all our hearts.

The Bible teaches that God has plans for each of us, plans for our welfare and a future filled with hope. However, these plans require our active participation. We must call upon God and seek Him with all our hearts to experience the fullness of His promises. This involves a willingness to pay the price, whatever it may be, to pursue the life God has intended for us. Jesus emphasized the importance of being weary and heavy-laden, urging us to come to Him with a desperate thirst for His presence and power.

Moreover, the resurrection of Jesus is central to our faith. It signifies victory over spiritual death, which is humanity's greatest problem. The Holy Spirit, described as the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead, empowers us to overcome spiritual death and live a life of resurrection power. This power is not about adhering to rules but experiencing the life of Christ within us, transforming us from the inside out.

To truly grasp these spiritual truths, we need revelation from God. It's not merely about intellectual understanding but a deep, heart-level revelation that transforms our lives. This revelation often comes through fellowship with other believers, emphasizing our dependence on the body of Christ. By valuing the insights and experiences of others, we enrich our spiritual journey and grow in our understanding of God's love and power.

Key Takeaways

1. Diligent Seeking: True faith involves believing that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. This requires us to abandon excuses and acknowledge our need to seek God wholeheartedly, recognizing that our spiritual progress is directly linked to our pursuit of Him. [01:18]
2. God's Plans for Us: God has specific plans for each of us, plans for our welfare and a future filled with hope. However, these plans require our active participation and a willingness to seek God with all our hearts, trusting that He will fulfill His promises. [07:29]
3. Resurrection Power: The resurrection of Jesus signifies victory over spiritual death. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome spiritual death and live a life of resurrection power, transforming us from the inside out. This power is not about rules but experiencing the life of Christ within us. [18:29]
4. Revelation through Fellowship: Spiritual growth often comes through revelation, not just intellectual understanding. By valuing fellowship with other believers, we enrich our spiritual journey and grow in our understanding of God's love and power. [23:28]
5. God's Riches in Us: God considers us His riches, having paid the ultimate price through Jesus' sacrifice. Understanding this truth changes our perspective on the Christian life, motivating us to live wholeheartedly for God, knowing that we are deeply valued by Him. [39:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Faith and Seeking God
[02:02] - The Danger of Excuses
[03:03] - Acknowledging Our Shortcomings
[05:24] - God's Plans for Our Future
[06:55] - The Call to Thirst for God
[08:22] - Seeking God with All Our Heart
[10:07] - The Mystery of Prayer
[11:00] - The Spirit of Resurrection
[12:33] - Spiritual Death and Resurrection
[16:29] - The Law and Spiritual Death
[18:29] - Resurrection Life in Christ
[20:19] - Revelation and Spiritual Growth
[23:28] - Fellowship and Dependence on the Body
[39:17] - God's Riches in Us

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Jeremiah 29:11-13
Romans 8:11
Ephesians 1:17-18

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Observation Questions:

According to Jeremiah 29:11-13, what are the conditions for experiencing God's plans for our welfare and future? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on seeking God with all our hearts? [07:29]
In Romans 8:11, how is the Holy Spirit described, and what significance does this have for believers in terms of resurrection power? [11:00]
Ephesians 1:17-18 speaks about the spirit of wisdom and revelation. What does Paul pray for the believers to understand, and how does this connect to the sermon’s message about revelation through fellowship? [20:19]
The sermon mentions the tendency to make excuses for our lack of spiritual progress. What examples of excuses are given, and how do they hinder our growth? [02:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the promise in Jeremiah 29:11-13 challenge believers to actively participate in God's plans for their lives? What does it mean to seek God with all one's heart? [08:22]
Romans 8:11 describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead. How does this understanding of the Holy Spirit empower believers to overcome spiritual death? [18:29]
In Ephesians 1:17-18, Paul prays for a spirit of wisdom and revelation. How does this prayer reflect the sermon’s emphasis on the need for heart-level revelation rather than mere intellectual understanding? [20:19]
The sermon discusses the importance of acknowledging our shortcomings and earnestly seeking God. How does this posture of humility contrast with the tendency to make excuses? [03:03]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you made excuses for your lack of spiritual growth. What steps can you take to adopt a posture of humility and diligently seek God? [02:02]
Jeremiah 29:11-13 speaks of God's plans for our welfare and future. How can you actively participate in these plans this week? What specific actions will you take to seek God with all your heart? [08:22]
Romans 8:11 highlights the resurrection power available to believers. Identify an area in your life where you need to experience this resurrection power. How will you invite the Holy Spirit to work in that area? [18:29]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of revelation through fellowship. How can you engage more deeply with your small group or church community to gain spiritual insights and grow in your faith? [23:28]
Consider the sermon’s message about God’s riches in us. How does understanding that God considers you His riches change your perspective on your identity and purpose? [39:17]
The sermon challenges us to abandon excuses and seek God wholeheartedly. What practical steps can you take this week to eliminate excuses and pursue a deeper relationship with God? [03:03]
Reflect on the sermon’s teaching about the life of Christ within us. How can you cultivate an awareness of Christ’s presence and power in your daily life? What specific practices will help you live out this resurrection life? [18:29]

Sermon Clips

The Bible says that part of faith is to believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. We know that faith is one of the most important things emphasized in the New Testament, and all of us would say we have faith. We believe, but I want to ask you this morning whether you really believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. [00:00:53]

I just want to encourage you, my brothers and sisters, if you want to go on with God, get rid of this Adamic habit of making excuses. If we see some other church has got something which we don't have, we say, yeah, but then of course they have some other problems. We're okay, and as long as we keep on saying I'm okay, my family is okay, my church is okay, you're guaranteeing for yourself that you'll never make progress. [00:03:36]

Will you pray that prayer to God sincerely, those of you who are serious? Lord, before I leave this earth, I want to experience everything that you want me to experience and have before I leave the earth. I mean, if there's something I'm going to have only in heaven, that's fine. I don't want it now. [00:05:42]

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. In Isaiah Jeremiah 29:11, imagine for a moment Jesus is standing before you right now and saying to you personally, as if nobody else is in the room, just Jesus and you, and Jesus saying to you, I have plans for you, plans for your welfare to give you a future and a hope. [00:07:12]

You can't just sit back and lazily and say, oh, it'll happen. It won't happen. It will never happen. You'll miss out completely. You got to call upon the Lord, verse 12, and it says in verse 13, you will find me when you search for me with all your heart. It's the same old story, whether it's Old Testament or New Testament. [00:08:15]

The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead. The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead, that's this Holy Spirit I want to be baptized with and I want to be filled with. The greatest problem of man is death, spiritual death. It's not sickness, it's not poverty. Jesus was poor, Paul was sick, Timothy was sick. [00:10:58]

Jesus came to Earth to conquer that spiritual death. If he had not conquered that, all the good that he had done, healed the lepers, did kind things, washed disciples' feet, and all that would have been useless. He did all those things, but he primarily came to conquer spiritual death because death was reigning over all men. [00:12:06]

The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is going to fill me. That means all death of every sort is going to gradually disappear from my life, and one day it'll even disappear from my body when Christ comes again. That means death won't even be able to touch my body one day, but it begins in our spirit right now. [00:18:25]

I pray that the eyes of your heart, not your mind, it's very important to distinguish between the mind and the heart. When you study Physics, chemistry, geography, you got to use your mind. Doesn't matter if you don't use your heart, but when you study the scriptures, it's your heart. It's the only book in the world where you got to use your heart. [00:20:37]

I think 90% of my Revelation on scripture I would not have got if I had not valued other brothers in the body of Christ. It doesn't matter what their denomination is. It doesn't matter. I got light from Reading Mother Teresa. He's a Catholic, not on Catholic doctrines, but on some other things about love for Jesus. [00:23:58]

God became Rich when he got you. You look around, say, is it me you're talking about? Me? Yes, you. God became Rich when he got you. Can you believe almighty God who wants nothing, needs nothing, says I became Rich when I got you? Man, God owns all the planets and stars in the universe in the Milky Way. [00:39:14]

The greatest manifestation of God's power, it says here, is when he raised Christ Jesus from the dead. Back again, we are to the same old subject, the power that raised Jesus from the dead. I told you how death has spread everywhere. Internet pornography is death. Lusting after women is death. Anger is death. Love of money is death. [00:54:19]

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Seeking God: Embracing His Promises and Power

Devotional

Day 1: The Reward of Diligent Seeking

Day 2: Participating in God's Plans

Day 3: Living in Resurrection Power

Day 4: Revelation through Fellowship

Day 5: Understanding God's Riches in Us

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Seeking God: Embracing His Promises and Power

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