The Transformative Power of Holiness and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Holiness as a Transformative Treasure

Holiness is a profound treasure that, once truly seen and tasted, transforms our perspective and leads to genuine conversion and revival. It is not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a deep, satisfying relationship with God. When we awaken to the beauty of holiness, we become aware of how far we have strayed from it, and this realization can lead to personal and collective revival. Holiness is not a mere lifestyle choice but a divine calling that reshapes our entire being, drawing us closer to God and aligning our desires with His. [26:18]

"For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you." (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek a deeper relationship with God to experience the transformative power of holiness?

Day 2: Passionate Obedience Rooted in Divine Satisfaction

Radical obedience to God is motivated by a supreme passion for pleasure in Him. This obedience is not driven by duty or fear but by a deep satisfaction in God’s holiness and His everlasting promises. When we find our ultimate pleasure in God, our obedience becomes a natural response to His love and grace. This kind of obedience is not burdensome but joyful, as it stems from a heart that delights in God above all else. [27:29]

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can shift your motivation from duty to delight in God’s promises today?

Day 3: Faith as Soul-Satisfying Contentment

True faith is not mere intellectual assent but a deep, soul-satisfying contentment in God. It is a faith that finds its ultimate satisfaction in all that God is for us in Jesus, especially in His promises for the future. This kind of faith transforms our perspective, allowing us to see beyond our circumstances and trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. When we are truly satisfied in God, our faith becomes a source of strength and joy, enabling us to live with confidence and hope. [36:14]

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper contentment in God today, especially in areas where you struggle to trust His promises?

Day 4: Breaking Sin’s Power with Superior Satisfaction

The power of sin is broken by offering a superior satisfaction in God. Sin’s allure is based on false promises of pleasure, but when we are truly satisfied in God, those promises lose their power. Our task is to portray God as more desirable than sin, to open eyes to His beauty, and to inspire a love for Him that surpasses all else. By finding our satisfaction in God, we can overcome the temptations of sin and live in the freedom and joy that He offers. [42:15]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What false promises of pleasure are you tempted by, and how can you seek a deeper satisfaction in God to overcome them?

Day 5: Portraying God as Supremely Desirable

Preaching must portray God as more desirable than sin, opening eyes to His beauty and inspiring a love for Him that surpasses all else. This is the key to producing radical obedience and genuine transformation. When we see God as supremely satisfying, our hearts are drawn to Him, and our lives are transformed by His love. By focusing on God’s beauty and goodness, we can inspire others to seek Him and experience the joy and fulfillment that only He can provide. [52:08]

"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." (Psalm 27:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you portray God’s beauty and desirability to those around you today, inspiring them to seek Him above all else?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound beauty and necessity of holiness in the Christian life. Holiness is not merely a set of rules or a lifestyle choice; it is a treasure that, once truly seen and tasted, transforms our entire perspective. The journey begins with an awakening, a conversion where the Holy Spirit illuminates the beauty of holiness, making us aware of how far we have strayed from it. This awakening is not just an individual experience but can lead to revival when it happens collectively.

The essence of radical obedience to God is rooted in a supreme passion for pleasure in Him. This obedience is not driven by duty or fear but by a deep satisfaction in God’s holiness and His everlasting promises. The preaching that inspires such obedience must portray God as supremely satisfying, drawing people to Him not through fear or obligation but through the allure of His holiness.

We discussed the analogy of an ebony brooch, representing sin, which appears beautiful in the darkness of our unawakened state. However, when God’s light shines upon it, we see it for the roach it truly is. This revelation is crucial for genuine repentance and conversion. True faith, then, is not just intellectual assent but a deep, soul-satisfying contentment in God. It is a faith that finds its ultimate satisfaction in all that God is for us in Jesus, especially in His promises for the future.

This kind of faith produces radical obedience because it breaks the power of sin by offering a superior satisfaction in God. Sin’s allure is based on false promises of pleasure, but when we are truly satisfied in God, those promises lose their power. Our task is to portray God as more desirable than sin, to open eyes to His beauty, and to inspire a love for Him that surpasses all else.

Key Takeaways

1. Holiness is a treasure that, once truly seen and tasted, transforms our perspective and leads to genuine conversion and revival. It is not about legalistic adherence to rules but about a deep, satisfying relationship with God. [26:18]
2. Radical obedience is motivated by a supreme passion for pleasure in God. This obedience is not driven by duty but by a deep satisfaction in God’s holiness and His everlasting promises. [27:29]
3. True faith is not mere intellectual assent but a deep, soul-satisfying contentment in God. It is a faith that finds its ultimate satisfaction in all that God is for us in Jesus, especially in His promises for the future. [36:14]
4. The power of sin is broken by offering a superior satisfaction in God. Sin’s allure is based on false promises of pleasure, but when we are truly satisfied in God, those promises lose their power. [42:15]
5. Preaching must portray God as more desirable than sin, opening eyes to His beauty and inspiring a love for Him that surpasses all else. This is the key to producing radical obedience and genuine transformation. [52:08]
** [52:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:58] - The Beauty of Holiness
[26:44] - Awakening and Revival
[27:13] - Passion for Pleasure in God
[28:01] - The Beginning of Christian Life
[28:29] - The Ebony Brooch Analogy
[29:51] - Radical Obedience and Contrition
[31:06] - Ongoing Obedience and Joy in God
[32:24] - Obedience Comes from Faith
[34:25] - Understanding True Faith
[36:00] - Definition of Saving Faith
[38:48] - Satisfaction in God
[41:03] - Breaking the Power of Sin
[45:20] - Biblical Snapshots of Faith
[52:08] - Portraying God as Desirable

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Romans 9:31-32
Hebrews 11:24-26
John 6:35

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Observation Questions:

In Romans 9:31-32, what does Paul say about the way Israel pursued righteousness, and how does this relate to the concept of faith? [31:48]
According to Hebrews 11:24-26, what motivated Moses to choose suffering with the people of God over the pleasures of Egypt? How does this illustrate the sermon’s message about radical obedience? [46:02]
In John 6:35, Jesus describes Himself as the bread of life. What does this metaphor suggest about the nature of faith and satisfaction in God? [39:39]
The sermon uses the analogy of an "ebony brooch" to describe sin. How does this analogy help us understand the transformation that occurs when we see sin in the light of God's holiness? [28:29]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the sermon describe the relationship between holiness and conversion? Why is it important for holiness to be portrayed as beautiful and desirable? [26:18]
The sermon suggests that radical obedience is motivated by a passion for pleasure in God. How does this differ from obedience driven by duty or fear? [27:29]
What does the sermon imply about the nature of true faith, especially in relation to being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus? How does this understanding of faith challenge common misconceptions? [36:14]
How does the sermon explain the breaking of sin's power through a superior satisfaction in God? What role does this play in producing radical obedience? [42:15]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you experienced an "awakening" to the beauty of holiness. How did this change your perspective on sin and obedience? [26:18]
Consider the concept of radical obedience motivated by pleasure in God. What are some areas in your life where you might be obeying out of duty rather than delight? How can you shift your motivation? [27:29]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being satisfied in God rather than His gifts. Identify a gift from God that you might be valuing more than God Himself. How can you refocus your satisfaction on God? [37:02]
Think about the analogy of the "ebony brooch" and how sin can appear attractive in darkness. What are some "brooches" in your life that need to be exposed to God's light? How can you seek His illumination? [28:29]
The sermon discusses the fleeting nature of sin's pleasures. What are some temporary pleasures you are tempted by, and how can you remind yourself of the superior satisfaction found in God? [47:51]
Reflect on the idea of portraying God as more desirable than sin. How can you actively cultivate a deeper love and desire for God in your daily life? [52:08]
The sermon calls for preaching that inspires radical obedience through portraying God's desirability. How can you support or participate in such preaching within your church community? [52:08]

Sermon Clips

We must preach so as to portray to sinners who have no holiness, holiness in such a way that by the anointing and power the regenerating, illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, they are enabled to taste the beauty of holiness and then they are struck at the horror of their lives, that they've missed it, that this treasure has been treated like dirt. [00:26:02]

The most powerful, painful acts of radical obedience are motivated by a supreme passion for pleasure in God. I would add now in the holiness of God, and the preaching that will kindle that kind of obedience must portray God as supremely and everlastingly satisfying. [00:27:14]

The beginning of the Christian life is the discovery of how wrong everything has been, how out of sync with God, how your values have been inverted, how your tastes have been blunted and suddenly by the awakening of the Holy Spirit you can now taste the beauty of holiness, the beauty of Christ, the delightfulness of God. [00:28:01]

If you want the brooch to look like the roach that it is, the lights have to go on so people see beauty for what it is and that's not beautiful anymore when the lights go on, other things are delicious and beautiful. So first step toward radical obedience is bringing people to radical contrition. [00:29:51]

The ongoing obedience that comes after the obedience of contrition and repentance must also now be motivated by a passion for joy in God. Now to demonstrate that I want to show you that all genuine gospel obedience that pleases God comes from faith. [00:31:06]

The essence of faith is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus, especially what he promises to be for us in the age to come. Saving faith is being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus, especially what he promises to be for you this afternoon and in the age to come. [00:36:00]

If the heart is satisfied with all that God has first in Jesus, the power of sin to lure you away is broken. You wonder how to break the sin of lust in your life, pornography, how to break the sin of greed in your life and your insatiable desire to have more money and more security and retirement. [00:42:15]

Every sin has power to the degree that it makes promises to you. Nobody sins out of duty, you only sin because sin lies to you, promising you either short-term or long-term pleasures. The only way to defeat those pleasures evangelically and not legalistically is with the power of a superior promise or a superior satisfaction. [00:43:20]

Your main job is to portray God as better than sin. If you preach duty and hammer away at your people God said not to sin, God told you to do righteousness, he's God, do it, you won't produce radical obedience, you'll produce legalists. You've got to win them, you've got to open their eyes. [00:52:08]

In thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand are pleasures forevermore. I'm going to give you a couple of snapshots as I move toward conclusion here, a couple of biblical snapshots of how this faith, faith understood as being satisfied with all that God is to you in Jesus produces radical obedience. [00:45:20]

Moses considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward. That's why I'm a Christian hedonist, folks. I want people to produce radical obedience, I want Moses, I want people to leave Minneapolis and go to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and Oman. [00:48:32]

If you want to produce this kind of Christian, you must preach the reward, who is God, my exceeding great reward is God, full deep sweet intimate unending fellowship in the presence of an infinitely glorious all-satisfying God. If your people don't want that they will not obey. [00:52:08]

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The Transformative Power of Holiness and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Holiness as a Transformative Treasure

Day 2: Passionate Obedience Rooted in Divine Satisfaction

Day 3: Faith as Soul-Satisfying Contentment

Day 4: Breaking Sin’s Power with Superior Satisfaction

Day 5: Portraying God as Supremely Desirable

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Transformative Power of Holiness and Obedience

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