Transformative Knowledge: A Personal Relationship with Jesus

 

Summary

The sermon delivered during the Candlelight Service on December 23, 2023, focuses on the profound importance of truly knowing Jesus Christ beyond religious rituals and knowledge. The speaker passionately conveys that knowing Jesus and His steadfast love surpasses life itself, leading to a life of praise, trust, and a heart aligned with His desires. The speaker references Psalm 9:10, emphasizing that those who truly know Jesus will trust in Him, as He never forsakes those who seek Him. This knowledge of Jesus fosters a desire to forgive, share faith, exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, and care for the poor.

The speaker warns against the dangers of merely going through religious motions without a personal relationship with Jesus, as exemplified by the religious leaders who failed to recognize Jesus despite their knowledge. The speaker stresses that Jesus seeks a personal relationship with each individual, and that knowing about God is not equivalent to truly knowing Him.

The congregation is encouraged to reflect on their knowledge of Jesus, with the speaker referencing Ephesians 1:1-17-19 and inviting them to consider the question, "What Child Is This?" Those recognizing Jesus as Christ the King are invited to stand and worship, with opportunities for prayer and for those new to faith to meet Jesus.

The speaker draws parallels between the wise men and shepherds who worshiped Jesus and the need for believers to be transformed by Him rather than returning to worldly ways. The importance of an intimate and personal knowledge of God is highlighted, with worship described as an overflow of this relationship. The speaker urges the congregation to treasure moments with Jesus, as Mary did, and to seek a deeper relationship with Him.

The sermon also addresses the societal belief in a higher being, questioning the depth of this belief and the personal relationship with God. The story of the wise men and King Herod from Matthew Chapter 2 is used to illustrate the contrast between seeking to know Jesus and being troubled by His teachings.

Personal stories are shared to illustrate the growth and maturity that come from deeply knowing someone, with the speaker encouraging the congregation to move beyond casual church attendance and seek a deeper relationship with Jesus. The speaker also discusses the responses to Jesus, such as Herod's fear and the religious leaders' indifference, emphasizing the significance of truly knowing and worshiping Jesus.

The sermon concludes with a reflection on the religious leaders' lack of interest in Jesus, the cost of truly knowing Him, and the importance of obedience to His commandments. The speaker also touches on the troubling aspects of Jesus and the resistance some may have towards Him, highlighting the destructive consequences of trying to eliminate or ignore Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Knowing Jesus is an ongoing journey that transforms our values and actions, leading us to forgive readily, share our faith actively, and care for the less fortunate with compassion. This transformation is a testament to the depth of our relationship with Christ and the impact it has on our lives. [01:03:49]

- A personal relationship with Jesus is essential for true spiritual fulfillment. Religious activities and knowledge about God are insufficient without a heartfelt connection with Him. It is through this personal relationship that we can experience the fullness of God's love and purpose for our lives. [50:48]

- Worship is not just a ritual but an expression of our intimate knowledge of and relationship with Jesus. It is through worship that we can encounter God's presence and allow our hearts to be enlightened to the hope, riches, and power found in knowing Christ. [01:05:50]

- The story of the wise men and shepherds serves as a reminder that an encounter with Jesus should lead to a transformation that prevents us from reverting to our old ways. True knowledge of God compels us to live lives that reflect His character and mission. [57:54]

- The importance of knowing Jesus cannot be overstated. It is not enough to believe in a higher being or to have knowledge of Jesus' existence; we must actively seek a personal and intimate relationship with Him. This relationship is the foundation of our faith and the source of our spiritual growth and maturity. [39:36]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 9:10 (ESV): "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
2. Ephesians 1:17-19 (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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."
3. Matthew 2:1-2 (ESV): "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 9:10, what is the result of truly knowing God's name?
2. In Ephesians 1:17-19, what does Paul pray for the believers to receive, and what are the intended outcomes of this prayer?
3. What was the reaction of Herod and the wise men upon hearing about the birth of Jesus in Matthew 2:1-2? How did their responses differ? [38:17]
4. How did the religious leaders respond to the news of Jesus' birth according to the sermon? What does this reveal about their relationship with God? [44:55]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "put their trust in you" as mentioned in Psalm 9:10? How does this trust manifest in a believer's life?
2. How can the "Spirit of wisdom and of revelation" mentioned in Ephesians 1:17-19 help believers in their daily walk with Christ? What practical changes might this bring about?
3. Why do you think Herod was troubled by the news of Jesus' birth, while the wise men were eager to worship Him? What does this contrast tell us about different attitudes towards Jesus? [39:36]
4. The sermon mentions that the religious leaders knew about Jesus but did not seek Him. What are the dangers of having knowledge about God without a personal relationship with Him? [45:39]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Do you find yourself going through religious motions without a personal relationship with Jesus? How can you deepen your relationship with Him this week? [47:42]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of worship as an expression of our relationship with Jesus. How can you make your worship more heartfelt and less of a ritual? [01:05:50]
3. The wise men and shepherds were transformed by their encounter with Jesus. What specific steps can you take to ensure that your encounters with Jesus lead to lasting transformation in your life? [57:54]
4. The sermon highlighted the need to forgive, share faith, and care for the poor as evidence of knowing Jesus. Identify one area where you can improve and make a concrete plan to act on it this week. [01:03:49]
5. How can you actively seek a deeper relationship with Jesus, similar to how Mary treasured her moments with Him? What practical steps can you take to treasure your moments with Jesus daily? [01:00:27]
6. The sermon mentioned the societal belief in a higher being but questioned the depth of this belief. How can you move from a superficial belief to a deep, personal relationship with God? [39:36]
7. Reflect on the story of the wise men and King Herod. Are there any teachings of Jesus that you find troubling or difficult to accept? How can you address these challenges in your faith journey? [40:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Forgiveness
True knowledge of Jesus Christ manifests in a life marked by forgiveness, compassion, and active faith sharing. It's a journey that reshapes one's values and actions, reflecting the profound relationship with Christ. This transformation is evident when one forgives readily, shares faith with enthusiasm, and serves the less fortunate with genuine care. [01:03:49]

Colossians 3:12-14 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Reflection: Who is someone you need to forgive, and how can you take the first step towards forgiveness today?

Day 2: Heartfelt Connection with Christ
A personal relationship with Jesus is the cornerstone of spiritual fulfillment, going beyond mere religious knowledge or activities. It's through a heartfelt connection with Him that one can truly experience the fullness of God's love and discover His purpose for our lives. [50:48]

James 4:8 - "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What are some ways you can deepen your personal relationship with Jesus this week?

Day 3: Worship as Intimate Expression
Worship is an intimate expression of our relationship with Jesus, a time when we encounter God's presence and allow our hearts to be enlightened to the hope and power found in knowing Him. It's not merely a ritual but a heartfelt response to our knowledge of Christ. [01:05:50]

Psalm 95:6-7 - "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
Reflection: How can your worship this week reflect a deeper intimacy with God?

Day 4: Transformation Prevents Regression
An encounter with Jesus should lead to a transformation that changes our lives, preventing us from reverting to our old ways. The story of the wise men and shepherds reminds us that true knowledge of God compels us to live lives that mirror His character and mission. [57:54]

Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can live out a transformation that reflects Christ's character?

Day 5: Seeking Intimacy with Jesus
Believing in a higher being or having knowledge of Jesus' existence is not enough; we must actively pursue a personal and intimate relationship with Him. This relationship is the foundation of our faith and the catalyst for our spiritual growth and maturity. [39:36]

Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to seek a more intimate relationship with Jesus?

Quotes

"Take steps in that direction, know him more. We may know a lot about God, we may do things that look very religious... but we can still be right and still get it wrong." [49:33] (Download)

"Scripture says he's standing at the door, he's knocking. He wants to know you... and so many of us go, 'It's a little inconvenient, it's a little uncomfortable.'" [50:09] (Download)

"Jesus is saying you could do all the good stuff you want, that's not actually what I'm after. I want to know you." [51:30] (Download)

"When you know Him, you love Him; when you love Him, you trust Him; you worship Him; you follow Him. Jesus is saying don't settle for knowing about me; I want to know you." [52:09] (Download)

"Some are informed about God but we're not transformed by Him. That's what happens when you get to know people; your relationship grows, it matures, it changes." [54:41] (Download)

"Meeting somebody is one thing, actually spending time with someone, actually getting to know them a little bit, it's an entirely different thing." [32:54] (Download)

"Let's get to know Him more in 2024. There a whole lot of us would say, 'Yeah, I believe in God,' but maybe we don't know Him." [36:51] (Download)

"Jesus is the one king that is worth knowing, and you can. He's not inaccessible. The beauty, the wonder of Christmas is this: that this King made himself accessible, he made himself knowable." [36:14] (Download)

"As you get to know him, your heart starts to break for the things that break his, you start to hunger more for his presence... you treasure it, you behold him like a little baby so precious, so valuable, just gazing into his eyes and saying I'm not going to let you go." [01:03:10] (Download)

"Once you've known, once you've seen, once you've tasted that the Lord is good, how can you go back to your normal life and yet so many of us do." [57:13] (Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?