Transformative Power of God's Grace and Love
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the transformative power of God's grace and mercy. He explains that when we fall in love with God, we receive the ability to overcome sin through His grace. The pastor acknowledges that we may still make mistakes, but highlights the importance of having a repentant heart and being willing to change. He then addresses the issue of believers who may attend church regularly and have knowledge about God, but do not truly know Him. These individuals may attend seminars, conferences, and Sunday services, taking notes and accumulating knowledge about God, but they have not allowed that knowledge to become a revelation in their spirit.
The pastor then declares the power and authority of God's Word, emphasizing that God's Word is above every problem and that they rely on God and His Word for guidance and victory. He shares a story from a conference they attended, where a couple in ministry for 60 years expressed that the most hurtful thing in their ministry was when people would leave without any explanation. The pastor reflects on this and shares that the most challenging thing for them as a pastor is preaching the Word and seeing that people may agree with it but struggle to live it out.
The pastor then emphasizes the knowledge that believers can have of God that goes beyond the natural world. He refers to the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, highlighting that there is a deeper understanding of God that can be attained. He shares a personal story about working for a construction company, illustrating the importance of actively engaging with God's deep truths rather than merely observing from a distance.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of understanding that the world is not about oneself, but about the eternal kingdom. He challenges the congregation to truly believe in this truth, stating that if they don't, they might as well join any other religion. The pastor highlights the concept of forgiveness, using the analogy of a servant who refuses to forgive someone who owes him a debt, despite being forgiven of his own massive debt.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the transformative power of God's love. He explains that when we receive God's love, it has the ability to change us and enable us to live like Him. The pastor uses the analogy of a marriage seminar, stating that when we struggle to love our spouse, we should choose to love them regardless and change the way we view them. This love should not be driven by selfish motives, but rather a genuine love for the other person.
Key Takeaways:
- The transformative power of God's grace and mercy is emphasized. When we fall in love with God, we receive the ability to overcome sin through His grace. It's important to have a repentant heart and be willing to change. [01:15]
- The pastor addresses the issue of believers who may attend church regularly and have knowledge about God, but do not truly know Him. This knowledge needs to become a revelation in their spirit, not just head knowledge. [10:45]
- The pastor declares the power and authority of God's Word, emphasizing that God's Word is above every problem. He shares a personal story about the hurt caused when people leave the church without explanation. [20:30]
- The pastor emphasizes the knowledge that believers can have of God that goes beyond the natural world. He refers to the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, highlighting that there is a deeper understanding of God that can be attained. [30:15]
- The pastor emphasizes the transformative power of God's love. When we receive God's love, it has the ability to change us and enable us to live like Him. This love should not be driven by selfish motives, but rather a genuine love for the other person. [40:00]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 46:10: "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'"
2. Jeremiah 33:3: "'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'"
3. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10: "However, as it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived'— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Psalm 46:10 instruct us to do and what is the promise that follows?
2. In Jeremiah 33:3, what is God's invitation and what is His promise?
3. What does 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 reveal about the things God has prepared for those who love Him?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does being still and knowing God, as mentioned in Psalm 46:10, relate to the transformative power of God's grace and mercy?
2. How does the promise in Jeremiah 33:3 of revealing great and unsearchable things align with the concept of having a deeper understanding of God beyond the natural world?
3. How does the revelation of God's deep things by His Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 relate to the transformative power of God's love?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled to be still and know God. How can you apply Psalm 46:10 in similar situations moving forward?
2. Can you recall a time when you called out to God and experienced His revelation of great and unsearchable things? How did that deepen your understanding of Him?
3. How has the revelation of God's deep things by His Spirit transformed your life? Can you share a specific instance?
4. In what ways can you actively engage with God's deep truths this week, rather than merely observing from a distance?
5. Think of a person in your life who you struggle to love. How can you apply the transformative power of God's love to change the way you view and interact with them?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Transformative Power of God's Grace
God's grace and mercy have the power to transform lives. When one falls in love with God, they receive the ability to overcome sin through His grace. It's not about being perfect, but about having a repentant heart and being willing to change. [01:15]
Bible Passage: Titus 2:11-12 - "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."
Reflection: How can you embrace God's grace in your life today? Can you identify one area where you need His grace to help you overcome sin?
Day 2: Knowing God Beyond Knowledge
There are those who attend church regularly, have knowledge about God, but do not truly know Him. This knowledge needs to become a revelation in their spirit, not just head knowledge. [10:45]
Bible Passage: Hosea 6:6 - "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
Reflection: How can you move from merely knowing about God to truly knowing Him? What steps can you take to allow His knowledge to become a revelation in your spirit?
Day 3: The Authority of God's Word
God's Word holds power and authority above every problem. It is upon God and His Word that one should rely for guidance and victory. [20:30]
Bible Passage: Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Reflection: How can you apply the authority of God's Word in your life today? Can you identify a problem where you need to apply God's Word for guidance and victory?
Day 4: Understanding God Beyond the Natural World
Believers can have a knowledge of God that goes beyond the natural world. There is a deeper understanding of God that can be attained through the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering. [30:15]
Bible Passage: Ephesians 3:18-19 - "May have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of God beyond the natural world? What steps can you take to experience the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of God's Love
God's love has the power to change us and enable us to live like Him. This love should not be driven by selfish motives, but rather a genuine love for the other person. [40:00]
Bible Passage: 1 John 4:7-8 - "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Reflection: How can you allow God's love to transform you today? Can you identify one way to express this genuine love to someone else?
Quotes
"We are called to obey all the law and all the prophets by doing two things, and that is loving God and loving others. That's it. No, just forget all the stuff and learn. Fall in love with God and do everything you can to bless others." [56:09]
"That is preaching the word and knowing that people just don't get it. That's got to be the toughest thing to give it to them. They say amen to it, but they don't know how to live it." [47:49]
"A lot of people today, who call themselves believers and Christians, go to church regularly but they really don't know God. They know a lot about God, attend seminars and conferences, take notes, but they haven't made that knowledge a revelation into their spirit man." [57:45]
"But when you fall in love with God you receive something That's called the God given ability to overcome It's called grace" [01:02:39]
"God just loves, period. When we love, we always want to put a 'because.' I love you because you do this, I love you because you're good to me, I love you because you bless me, I love you because you like me. Period." [01:37:25]
"Walk into his presence with all of the junk in our lives, all of our mess-ups, and we've broken every single commandment over and over again. And God says to you, 'I love you.' And we hear that love, we receive that love, and we say, 'Lord, I'm sorry for all the stuff I've done, forgive me of my sins.' Just like that, God treats you just as if you have never seen, you're made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus in a moment's time." [01:39:07]
"For me to live as a son of God, I've got to love like God. Are you connecting the dots in this statement?" [01:32:28]
"Then just love your spouse. Period and change the way you view them." [01:48:08]
"God has forgiven me of everything, and that's the revelation of his love to me. And for me to understand that kind of love, I have to understand by faith I can receive that love. And by faith, I can give that love. Comprehend the love of Christ that goes beyond because now then whatever your hurts are toward me, I can walk in forgiveness toward you because I know my reward is in eternity." [01:41:35]
"If you know my love, you can love like me. If you can't love like me, you don't yet know my love." [01:43:59]
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