Seeking God's Presence: Embracing Growth and Transformation
Summary
Reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one, it's important to consider what we truly desire from God. As we gather on this last Sunday of the year, we are reminded of the journey we've been on, the lessons learned, and the growth experienced. Our theme for the year was to "grow strong," and many of us have seen evidence of that strength in our church community through increased discipleship and leadership. As we look back, we also look forward to the new things God wants to do in us and through us.
The concept of "one thing" is central to our reflection today. If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be? This question challenges us to consider our deepest desires and needs. The psalmist in Psalm 27:4 expressed a desire to dwell in the house of the Lord, highlighting the importance of seeking God's presence above all else. As we ponder this, we are also encouraged to consider what we might lack that God desires for us. Jesus, in his encounter with the rich young ruler, pointed out the one thing he lacked, which was a heart fully devoted to God.
Letting go is another crucial aspect of our reflection. Paul, in Philippians, speaks of forgetting what is behind and pressing on toward what is ahead. We are invited to consider what burdens or past experiences we need to release to move forward with God. Holding onto past hurts or failures can hinder our spiritual growth, and God calls us to lay these down at His feet.
Finally, we are reminded of the promises of God. In times of uncertainty or weakness, God's promises provide strength and guidance. As we enter the new year, let's focus on a God-sized intention, something that aligns with His will and purpose for our lives. This could be the year where we see significant transformation, not just for ourselves but for those around us.
Key Takeaways:
- Reflect on what you truly desire from God. Like the psalmist, prioritize seeking God's presence and dwelling in His house above all else. This desire shapes our spiritual journey and aligns our hearts with His will. [33:23]
- Consider what you might lack that God desires for you. Jesus pointed out the rich young ruler's lack of devotion, reminding us that God wants us to possess a heart fully committed to Him. Reflect on what God might be calling you to embrace. [38:02]
- Let go of past burdens and failures. Paul encourages us to forget what is behind and press on toward what is ahead. Releasing past hurts or mistakes allows us to move forward in our spiritual journey with freedom and hope. [43:03]
- Embrace the promises of God. In times of weakness or uncertainty, God's promises provide strength and guidance. Trust in His faithfulness and let His promises be your anchor as you navigate the challenges of life. [48:44]
- Focus on a God-sized intention for the new year. Instead of merely setting good intentions, seek a God intention that aligns with His purpose for your life. This could lead to significant transformation and impact, both personally and in the lives of others. [50:35]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:00] - Reflecting on the Past Year
[06:45] - The Concept of "One Thing"
[10:30] - Desiring God's Presence
[14:00] - What Do You Lack?
[18:24] - Evidence of Growth
[21:04] - Letting Go of the Past
[23:48] - New Year's Resolutions
[27:13] - Seeking God's Kingdom
[31:02] - The Power of Small Things
[33:23] - Desiring from God
[38:02] - What God Desires for You
[43:03] - Letting Go of Burdens
[48:44] - Embracing God's Promises
[50:35] - God-Sized Intentions
[51:05] - Made for More
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 27:4
2. Philippians 3:13-14
3. Mark 10:21-22
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Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 27:4, what is the one thing the psalmist desires from the Lord? How does this desire reflect the psalmist's priorities?
2. According to Philippians 3:13-14, what does Paul encourage believers to do with their past? How does this relate to the concept of pressing on toward future goals?
3. In Mark 10:21-22, what does Jesus identify as the one thing the rich young ruler lacks? How does this reveal the ruler's heart condition?
4. Reflecting on the sermon, what were some examples given of how the church community has grown stronger over the past year? [18:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the psalmist's desire to dwell in the house of the Lord challenge modern believers in their pursuit of God's presence? [33:23]
2. What might Paul mean by "forgetting what is behind" in Philippians 3:13-14, and how can this be applied to personal spiritual growth? [43:03]
3. In the story of the rich young ruler, why do you think Jesus focused on the ruler's attachment to his possessions? What does this teach about the obstacles to fully following God? [38:02]
4. How can the concept of a "God-sized intention" differ from a typical New Year's resolution, and why might this be significant for spiritual transformation? [50:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What is one thing you truly desire from God this year? How can you prioritize seeking His presence in your daily routine? [33:23]
2. Consider what you might lack that God desires for you. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to grow or change? How can you begin to embrace this calling? [38:02]
3. Identify a past burden or failure that you need to let go of. What steps can you take to release this to God and move forward with hope and freedom? [43:03]
4. Think about a promise of God that you can claim in times of uncertainty or weakness. How can this promise provide strength and guidance in your current circumstances? [48:44]
5. What is a "God-sized intention" you can focus on for the new year? How does this intention align with God's will and purpose for your life? [50:35]
6. Reflect on the past year: What evidence of growth have you seen in your spiritual journey or within your church community? How can you build on this growth in the coming year? [18:24]
7. How can you actively seek God's kingdom first in your daily decisions and interactions? What practical steps can you take to ensure that His righteousness is your priority? [27:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Seeking God's Presence Above All
Reflecting on our deepest desires, we are reminded of the psalmist's longing to dwell in the house of the Lord. This desire to seek God's presence above all else is not just a fleeting wish but a foundational aspect of our spiritual journey. It shapes our priorities and aligns our hearts with God's will. In a world filled with distractions and competing desires, choosing to prioritize God's presence requires intentionality and commitment. As we enter a new year, let us examine what it means to truly desire God above all else and how this desire can transform our lives. [33:23]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to prioritize seeking God's presence in your daily routine?
Day 2: Embracing What God Desires for You
The encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler highlights the importance of recognizing what we might lack that God desires for us. Jesus pointed out the young man's lack of devotion, reminding us that God wants us to possess a heart fully committed to Him. This reflection invites us to consider areas in our lives where we may be holding back from fully embracing God's desires. It challenges us to let go of our own plans and ambitions to align ourselves with His purpose. As we reflect on this, let us ask ourselves what God might be calling us to embrace in this new season. [38:02]
Mark 10:21 (ESV): "And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God is calling you to deeper devotion or surrender? How can you take a step toward that today?
Day 3: Releasing Past Burdens
Paul's encouragement to forget what is behind and press on toward what is ahead is a powerful reminder of the importance of letting go. Holding onto past hurts, failures, or burdens can hinder our spiritual growth and prevent us from moving forward with God. This reflection invites us to identify what we need to release to experience freedom and hope in our spiritual journey. As we lay these burdens at God's feet, we open ourselves to the new things He wants to do in and through us. [43:03]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What past burden or failure are you holding onto that you need to release to God today? How can you begin to let go and move forward?
Day 4: Trusting in God's Promises
In times of uncertainty or weakness, God's promises provide strength and guidance. Trusting in His faithfulness allows us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and hope. This reflection encourages us to embrace the promises of God as our anchor, especially as we face the unknowns of a new year. By focusing on His promises, we can find peace and assurance in His unchanging nature. Let us remind ourselves of the specific promises God has made and how they can sustain us in our journey. [48:44]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What is one promise of God that you need to hold onto in this season? How can you remind yourself of this promise daily?
Day 5: Setting God-Sized Intentions
As we enter a new year, the idea of setting a God-sized intention challenges us to go beyond mere resolutions. Instead of focusing on good intentions, we are invited to seek a God intention that aligns with His purpose for our lives. This reflection encourages us to dream big and trust that God can bring about significant transformation and impact, both personally and in the lives of others. By aligning our intentions with God's will, we open ourselves to the possibility of experiencing His power and presence in new and profound ways. [50:35]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: What is one God-sized intention you feel led to pursue this year? How can you begin to align your actions with this intention today?
Quotes
But it's good for us to remember the important things, but it's also good to let go of some stuff, right? The Bible says, don't dwell on the past because sometimes, the past, it's a good thing. It's part of our story, but sometimes we need to kind of let go of it a little bit. Forget the former things. Don't dwell on the past. And then you remember this part of a verse in Isaiah that we talked about previously. [00:21:53] (24 seconds)
This new thing that God may be doing in you, it may be taking you through a rocky experience right now so that he can prep you and work on you and help refine you to the point that you're ready for what it is that he's about to use you for. The change that's about to come take place in your life. It could be a great thing that's happening. [00:23:17] (23 seconds)
There is a difference between good intentions, things that we know that would be positive for us. Lose weight. I'm going to stop speeding. I'm going to eat healthier. I'm going to read my Bible every day. That's a good intention, and then a God intention where you really focus on spending time with God every day because it's on your heart, and his spirit is drawing you into that. [00:25:29] (30 seconds)
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be given to you as if we seek him first, we seek his holiness first, who he is, all these other good intentions that we have, even the God intentions we have, we can find success in, and God will be willing to bless us with some of those things. [00:26:40] (26 seconds)
And so for us to have, I think, some intense God intentions and not for us to get overwhelmed, I'm going to kind of walk us through one thing. It's just a series of questions that we're going to ask today, but before we do that, I want us to pray together, and I want to use two verses for us to pray through. We're going to use, first of all, Matthew 633. [00:26:40] (20 seconds)
God, we pray that you would help us to seek your kingdom first and foremost, your righteousness, your holiness. So easy to seek after other things that we think will make us look good as believers. God, help me to be a good life group leader. God, give me the ability to be able to sing on stage. Or God, give me the ability to serve in a group or do missions this coming year. [00:27:51] (27 seconds)
The one thing that we wish that God could just take away from us, rescue us from, we've run to other things instead of God to try to get a better feeling about where we're at. And we need to remember the promise of God. The promises that God gave us. Psalm 56, 9 through 13. This one thing I know. [00:48:23] (26 seconds)
Jesus says to you and I, everything that you need, I have. I'm the answer. Every temptation you face, I'm the way out. Every sin that you are giving into, I'm your forgiveness. When you feel alone, abandoned, and scared, I'm with you. When you're weak and you're tired, I'm your strength. When you're aimless and you're unsure, I'm your guide. [00:49:08] (26 seconds)
You're in the best spot possible. Do you know that? You are in the best spot possible to let go of that one thing or to grab hold of that one thing that God wants to do for you. Because therefore, we can boast all more gladly that in our weakness, Christ, power came and rested on me and did something that only he could do. [00:49:43] (27 seconds)
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