Seeking the Face of God in Jesus Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, the Visible Face of God

The revelation of God's face in Jesus Christ is a profound truth that invites us into a personal relationship with God. Jesus is not merely a historical figure or a distant deity; He is the exact representation of the Father, embodying the fullness of God's glory and heart. Through Jesus, we are given the opportunity to know God intimately and experience His presence in our lives. This revelation is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that calls us to seek His face and know Him deeply. [03:59]

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to know Jesus more intimately today, beyond just acknowledging Him as a historical figure?

Day 2: The Rejection and Grace of God

Humanity's rejection of God's face, as seen in the crucifixion of Jesus, highlights the depth of human sinfulness. Despite this rejection, Jesus extended forgiveness, demonstrating the boundless grace and love of God. This tragic reality serves as a reminder of the grace that is available to us, even when we fall short. Jesus' response to rejection is a powerful testament to the depth of God's love and His desire for reconciliation with humanity. [12:55]

"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have rejected God's presence? How can you open your heart to His grace and forgiveness today?

Day 3: Desiring God for Who He Is

To seek God's face is to desire Him for who He is, not just for His blessings. This requires an unveiled face, a willingness to be honest and transparent before God, allowing Him to cleanse and transform us. Seeking God in this way means prioritizing His presence above all else and desiring to know His heart. It is a call to authenticity and vulnerability in our relationship with God, where we allow Him to reveal and cleanse the hidden areas of our hearts. [25:51]

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to be more transparent with God? How can you invite Him to cleanse and transform that area today?

Day 4: The Diligent Pursuit of God's Presence

Seeking God's face is a diligent, earnest pursuit that prioritizes His presence above all else. It is about seeking the blesser more than the blessing, desiring to know His heart and see His glory. This pursuit requires intentionality and commitment, as we prioritize our relationship with God and seek to know Him more deeply. It is a call to prioritize His presence in our lives and to seek Him with all our hearts. [35:07]

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29, ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to prioritize seeking God's presence in your daily life?

Day 5: Transformation Through Seeking

As we seek God's face, we are transformed from glory to glory, becoming more like Him. This transformation is the result of an intimate relationship with God, where His presence changes us deeply. It is a journey of becoming more like Christ, as we allow His presence to shape and mold us. This transformation is not just about external changes but a deep, internal transformation that reflects the glory of God in our lives. [44:51]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you seen God's transformative work in your life? How can you continue to allow His presence to shape you into His image?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound truth that God has a face, and that face is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. This truth is not just a theological concept but a deeply personal reality that invites us into a relationship with God. The face of Jesus is the exact representation of the Father, and through Him, we see the glory of God. This is a call to seek His face, to know Him intimately, and to experience His presence in our lives.

The face of God is not just a metaphor; it is a reality that Jesus Christ embodies. He is not a distant deity or an abstract idea but a living, personal God who took on human form. This incarnation is a testament to His desire to be known and to relate to us personally. Jesus, the express image of God, reveals the heart of the Father, and through Him, we are invited to gaze upon the glory of God.

However, the sermon also highlights the tragic reality of humanity's response to this revelation. Sinful man has often rejected and even despised the face of God. The ultimate expression of this rejection was when Jesus was spat upon and crucified. Yet, even in the face of such rejection, Jesus extended forgiveness, demonstrating the depth of God's love and grace.

The call today is to move from being among those who reject and despise God's face to those who seek it earnestly. Seeking God's face means desiring Him for who He is, not just for what He can do for us. It requires an unveiled face, a willingness to be honest and transparent before God, allowing Him to reveal and cleanse the hidden areas of our hearts.

This pursuit of God's face is not a casual endeavor but a diligent, earnest seeking that prioritizes His presence above all else. It is about seeking the blesser more than the blessing, desiring to know His heart and see His glory. As we seek His face, we are transformed from glory to glory, becoming more like Him.

Key Takeaways

1. God's Face Revealed in Jesus: The face of God is revealed in Jesus Christ, who is the exact representation of the Father. This revelation invites us into a personal relationship with God, where we can experience His glory and know His heart. [03:59]
2. The Tragedy of Rejection: Humanity's rejection of God's face, as seen in the crucifixion of Jesus, highlights the depth of human sinfulness. Yet, even in rejection, Jesus offers forgiveness, demonstrating God's boundless grace. [12:55]
3. Seeking God's Face: To seek God's face is to desire Him for who He is, not just for His blessings. This requires an unveiled face, a willingness to be honest and transparent before God, allowing Him to cleanse and transform us. [25:51]
4. Diligent Pursuit: Seeking God's face is a diligent, earnest pursuit that prioritizes His presence above all else. It is about seeking the blesser more than the blessing, desiring to know His heart and see His glory. [35:07]
5. Transformation Through Seeking: As we seek God's face, we are transformed from glory to glory, becoming more like Him. This transformation is the result of an intimate relationship with God, where His presence changes us deeply. [44:51]
** [44:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - The Hidden Gospel
[01:20] - Prayer for Transformation
[02:35] - The Significance of God's Face
[03:59] - Jesus: The Face of God
[05:28] - God Became Man
[07:32] - The Unattractive Face of Jesus
[09:08] - Humanity's Rejection
[12:35] - The Depth of Human Sinfulness
[16:04] - Two Camps: Spitting or Seeking
[18:40] - Seeking God for Himself
[20:31] - Priority of Seeking God's Face
[23:43] - The Danger of Doing Without God
[25:51] - Seeking with an Unveiled Face
[35:07] - Diligent Pursuit of God's Presence
[44:51] - Transformation Through Seeking

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Hebrews 1:1-3
John 1:1-14

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Observation Questions:

According to 2 Corinthians 4:6, how does God reveal the light of His glory to us? How is this connected to the face of Jesus Christ? [01:00]
In Hebrews 1:3, what does it mean that Jesus is the "express image" of God's person? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about God having a face? [04:39]
John 1:14 speaks of the Word becoming flesh. How does this passage describe the glory of Jesus, and how does it relate to the idea of God having a face? [07:14]
What does the sermon suggest is the significance of Jesus having an unattractive face according to Isaiah 53:2-3? [07:52]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon explain the concept of seeking God's face as opposed to seeking His hand? What does this distinction mean for a believer's relationship with God? [18:40]
The sermon discusses the tragedy of humanity's rejection of God's face. How does this rejection manifest in our daily lives, and what does it reveal about human nature? [12:55]
What does it mean to seek God with an "unveiled face," and how does this concept challenge us to be honest and transparent before God? [25:51]
How does the sermon describe the transformation that occurs when we earnestly seek God's face? What role does this transformation play in a believer's life? [44:51]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current relationship with God. Are you more focused on seeking His blessings or His presence? How can you shift your focus to prioritize seeking His face? [19:22]
The sermon highlights the importance of being honest and transparent before God. Are there areas in your life where you feel you are wearing a "mask"? How can you begin to remove these masks in your relationship with God? [26:09]
Consider the idea of diligently seeking God's face. What practical steps can you take this week to prioritize time in God's presence, even amidst a busy schedule? [35:07]
The sermon mentions the transformation from glory to glory. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you desire transformation? How can seeking God's face help facilitate this change? [44:51]
Reflect on the sermon’s message about humanity's rejection of God's face. Are there ways in which you might be unintentionally rejecting God's presence in your life? How can you address this? [12:55]
The sermon calls us to move from being among those who reject God to those who seek Him earnestly. What is one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate your earnest pursuit of God? [16:20]
How can you encourage others in your community or small group to seek God's face? What role can you play in fostering a culture of earnest pursuit of God’s presence? [39:47]

Sermon Clips

God has a face and that face is the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the very face of God; he is the exact representation of the Father. He said, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. [00:03:56]

God became man. God took on a face. John chapter 1 beginning in verse 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [00:06:40]

God has a face, and man esteemed it not. God has a face, and sinful man despised it. Think of it, brothers and sisters, God has a face. God became man. God has a face, and man actually despised the face of God. [00:08:47]

God has a face, and man spit in the face of God. That is the horror of horrors. God has a face. He became man, and just how low would the depravity and sinfulness and wickedness of man really go? Sinful man would actually spit in the face of God's own son. [00:11:24]

The face which lights up all of heaven, the beloved son of the Father, the very brightness of his glory, and they did spit upon it. The clearest proof that man has utterly fallen, that man is utterly wretched and vile and totally depraved in enmity with God. [00:11:53]

The wonder of all wonders is that Jesus Christ allowed them to do it. He could have called 12 legions of angels. He could have taken their very breath away. He held their very breath in his hand, and yet God let them spit in his face. [00:12:32]

There are those who are spitting in his face even today. God has a face, and there are those who are seeking his face even today. God is looking for those who will seek his face, and my question for you today this morning is, which camp are you in? [00:16:23]

What is it to seek the face of God? When we talk about seeking the face of God, we're talking about seeking God for himself, seeking God for who he is, not just what he can do for me. There's a big difference between seeking the face of God and seeking the hand of God. [00:18:41]

Seeking his face must take priority over everything else we do. That's why David says one thing, not ten things, but one thing have I desired of the Lord, that's to behold the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord, to be in his presence. [00:20:28]

I'm absolutely persuaded that all effective fruitful ministry comes out, it comes only as an overflow of your personal intimacy and relationship with God. Everything else is dead works, brothers. Everything else is dead works. [00:21:47]

To seek the face of God, we have got to be willing to be absolutely honest because what will happen when you seek the face of God, the glory of God, the holiness of God always illuminates the sinfulness of man. There are hidden spots in my heart, blind spots that I cannot see. [00:27:04]

We must seek the face of God diligently, earnestly. Hebrews 11:6 says that he that comes to God must believe that God is and that he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God wants to be sought with how much of our heart? All of our heart. [00:35:01]

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Seeking the Face of God in Jesus Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, the Visible Face of God

Day 2: The Rejection and Grace of God

Day 3: Desiring God for Who He Is

Day 4: The Diligent Pursuit of God's Presence

Day 5: Transformation Through Seeking

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Seeking the Face of God in Jesus Christ

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