Transformative Preaching: Encountering Christ's Holiness

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Preaching

Preaching is not just about conveying information; it is a divine encounter that penetrates the depths of God's wisdom and elevates believers to new spiritual heights. This dual nature of preaching transforms routine spiritual lives into profound experiences of worship and connection with God. When believers engage with true preaching, they are drawn out of spiritual stagnation and into a dynamic relationship with God's truth. This transformative experience is not merely intellectual but deeply spiritual, leading to genuine worship and a renewed sense of purpose. [00:38]

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (ESV): "But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

Reflection: How can you open your heart to experience the transformative power of preaching in your life this week?

Day 2: The Eternal Curiosity of Christ's Holiness

Christ's holiness is an inexhaustible theme that captivates the eternal curiosity of believers. Throughout Scripture, from His birth to His resurrection, Christ's holiness is affirmed and celebrated. In Revelation 1, His transcendent glory is vividly depicted, offering a profound vision of His divine nature. This vision is not only awe-inspiring but also serves as a reminder of the depth and richness of Christ's character. As believers ponder the holiness of Christ, they are invited to explore the depths of His nature and be transformed by His presence. [02:54]

Revelation 1:12-16 (ESV): "Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters."

Reflection: What aspect of Christ's holiness captivates you the most, and how can you meditate on this aspect in your daily life?

Day 3: Christ's Active Presence in the Church

Despite the imperfections and struggles of the church, Christ remains actively present, interceding, purifying, and guiding His people. His presence assures believers that He is working to make the church a reflection of His glory. This vision offers comfort and encouragement, reminding believers that Christ's holiness is not distant but intimately involved in their lives and the life of the church. As believers navigate the challenges of church life, they can find hope in the knowledge that Christ is actively working to bring about His purposes. [19:00]

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV): "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in Christ's work within your church community this week?

Day 4: The Assurance of Holy Intercession

Christ, as the great high priest, intercedes for His church, ensuring that no accusation stands against it in heaven. This intercession secures the eternal relationship between believers and God, despite their struggles and failures. The knowledge of Christ's intercession provides believers with assurance and peace, knowing that they are continually upheld by His grace. As believers reflect on this truth, they are encouraged to approach God with confidence, trusting in the sufficiency of Christ's intercession. [23:57]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: How does the knowledge of Christ's intercession change the way you approach God in prayer today?

Day 5: Encountering the Transformative Holiness of Christ

Encountering Christ's holiness is a transformative experience that compels believers to confront their sins and embrace His grace. This vision of holiness is both terrifying and reassuring, reminding believers of the price Christ paid for their sins and His ongoing work in their lives. As believers encounter Christ's holiness, they are invited to respond with repentance and a renewed commitment to live in His grace. This transformative encounter leads to a deeper understanding of God's love and a more profound experience of His presence. [44:36]

Isaiah 6:5-7 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"

Reflection: What specific sin or struggle do you need to bring before Christ today, trusting in His transformative holiness to bring healing and change?

Sermon Summary

In our gathering today, we explored the profound and transcendent nature of preaching, emphasizing its dual purpose: to delve deep into the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and to elevate us to new heights of spiritual wonder and praise. This journey is not merely an intellectual exercise but a transformative experience that saturates our souls and lifts us to genuine worship. We acknowledged the challenges many face in their spiritual lives, often feeling stuck in a "flat line" of routine, and how true preaching can break this cycle by connecting us deeply with God's truth.

We then turned our focus to the holiness of Christ, an inexhaustible theme that will captivate our eternal curiosity. Using the metaphor of a boy collecting ocean water in a bottle, I attempted to capture a glimpse of Christ's holiness for us to ponder. We examined various biblical affirmations of Christ's holiness, from the angelic announcement to Mary to the divine affirmations at His baptism and transfiguration. Ultimately, we found a profound depiction of Christ's holiness in Revelation 1, where His transcendent glory is revealed in the midst of His church.

This vision of Christ is not only awe-inspiring but also deeply practical for our lives and ministries. Despite the church's struggles and imperfections, Christ remains present, interceding, purifying, and guiding His church. His presence assures us that, despite our challenges, He is actively working to make His church a reflection of His glory. This vision offers comfort and encouragement, reminding us that Christ's holiness is not distant but intimately involved in our lives and the life of the church.

Key Takeaways

1. The Dual Nature of Preaching: Preaching should penetrate deep into the hidden wisdom of God and elevate us to new spiritual heights. This dual nature transforms our routine spiritual lives into profound experiences of worship and connection with God. [00:38]
2. The Inexhaustible Holiness of Christ: Christ's holiness is a theme that will captivate our eternal curiosity. It is affirmed throughout Scripture, from His birth to His resurrection, and is vividly depicted in Revelation 1, where His transcendent glory is revealed. [02:54]
3. Christ's Presence in the Church: Despite the church's imperfections, Christ remains present, interceding, purifying, and guiding His church. His presence assures us that He is actively working to make His church a reflection of His glory. [19:00]
4. The Role of Holy Intercession: Christ, as our great high priest, intercedes for His church, ensuring that no accusation stands against it in heaven. This intercession secures our eternal relationship with God, despite our struggles and failures. [23:57]
5. The Transformative Power of Christ's Holiness: Encountering Christ's holiness is a transformative experience that compels us to confront our sins and embrace His grace. This vision of holiness is both terrifying and reassuring, reminding us of the price He paid for our sins and His ongoing work in our lives. [44:36]
** [44:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - The Dual Nature of Preaching
[01:28] - Emotional Manipulation vs. True Worship
[02:09] - Honoring Fellow Ministers
[02:54] - The Inexhaustible Holiness of Christ
[03:36] - Affirmations of Christ's Holiness
[05:28] - Revelation 1: A Vision of Christ
[06:21] - The Church's Struggles and Hopes
[07:41] - Pastoral Challenges and Encouragement
[09:00] - John's Exile and Vision
[11:14] - The Church's Disarray
[13:25] - Christ in the Midst of His Church
[19:00] - Holy Presence and Communion
[23:57] - Holy Intercession
[44:36] - The Transformative Power of Holiness

Sermon Clips

Preaching has to do two things: it has to go down -- way down, past the surface -- down into the depths of the riches, of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden below a cursory glance. And then it has to go way up. It has to take you where you've never been and take you to the place where you are, in the words of the hymn writer, "lost in wonder, love and praise". [00:00:38]

The height and depth and breadth and knowledge of it will fill our perfected wonder someday. It will occupy our holy fascination and our eternal curiosity. And I suppose I feel today a little bit like the boy who was visiting the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, took a little bottle and went down and filled the bottle with ocean water because he wanted to take it back to Kansas and show his friends the Atlantic Ocean. [00:02:54]

The church is called to be the all-beautiful bride of Christ, and yet often appears more like a ragged Cinderella for whom the clock has struck midnight. And we're burdened for the church. I'm burdened for the church. I write a lot of books addressing issues in the church. I struggle in my own church. Those of us who are pastors are 'embattled,' to put it mildly, in the life of the church. [00:05:54]

We long that people would have a deep, rich communion with the living Christ. We desire that they would have power over temptation and over sin, living triumphantly. We would long that they would passionately pursue holiness and purity, that they would submit to the authority of the Word of God, God's holy truth that sanctifies. [00:06:49]

Here is our holy Christ manifesting Himself in transcendent glory in the midst of His church. This is tremendously encouraging to me. But before we get to me and to you, let's go back to John. At the time that he received this vision, as you know, he was sitting on a rock in the Mediterranean. It's called Patmos. [00:08:45]

John hears the voice, he turns, and he looks, he sees the seven lampstands and in the midst is the unveiled Christ in holy glory standing the middle of His church. I think sometimes, for us, we may feel that the Lord has abandoned His church. John may've felt that. He may've wondered what was going on in Israel, first of all. [00:17:48]

The Lord of the church has unceasing communion with His church. It's never broken. The true church is in living communion with Christ. We used to hear a phrase a lot that always bothered me, even as a young Christian. We used to hear people say, "You're out of fellowship with the Lord." And there was something about that that just ground on me. [00:20:30]

He is interceding for His church as their great high priest. And I know we love those passages in Hebrews 2:17 -- He is "a merciful and faithful high priest," able to come to the aid of those who are tempted; Hebrews 3:16 -- "Jesus, the high priest of our confession," faithful over His house, whose house we are; a wonderful passage in Hebrews 4:15 -- a high priest who can sympathize with our weakness. [00:23:57]

Though He intercedes for His church, and nothing will ever cause them to be condemned, that does not mean that He is not concerned about their holiness. And though they enjoy a present and continuing fellowship with Christ, and though they enjoy a present intercession which secures their salvation forever, they will also be subject to a present discipline. [00:28:54]

The Lord is moving through His church; His holy presence, indicated by the white, penetrating gaze, seeing everything that is there, finding the sin, and bringing His burning feet in judgement on that sin. You know, you say when you discipline in the church do you get everything? No, I don't get everything. We don't get everything. We work hard to keep the church pure. [00:31:41]

The Lord speaks to His church through His Word. Holy authority is exercised on the church. Obviously, it's a tragedy when people abandon the Word of God for anything else, but the Lord manages to get His message to His people. And then there is holy sovereignty here. In verse 16: "In His right hand He held seven stars." [00:34:11]

When you see the glory of Christ, it's a traumatizing reality and I think it's a necessary thing. You will never deal honestly with your sins until you have seen a vision of the holiness of God and Christ. It is a traumatizing reality, but we live with the assurance that the One who is so frightening is the One who has paid the price, in full, for our sins and whose holy justice has been satisfied. [00:44:36]

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