Transforming Intentions: Marveling at Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Worthiness and Transformation

God's calling is a profound invitation to transformation, one that requires divine intervention to fulfill. In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Paul prays for believers to be made worthy of this calling, emphasizing that it is God who fulfills every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power. This transformation is not just about personal growth but about being prepared to marvel at Christ upon His return. The struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, as highlighted in Romans 7:18, reminds us of our inability to achieve this on our own. We need God's power to bring our good intentions to fruition, making us fit to stand in awe of Christ's glory. [01:00]

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you feel unworthy of God's calling, and how can you invite His power to transform that area today?

Day 2: The Struggle and Divine Power

The Christian journey is marked by a constant struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul acknowledges this in Romans 7:18, where he speaks of the desire to do good but the lack of ability to carry it out without divine help. This struggle is a reminder of our dependence on God's power to fulfill our good resolves. It is through His intervention that our intentions are transformed into actions that glorify Him. Recognizing our limitations is the first step towards seeking God's strength to overcome them and live a life that reflects His glory. [02:54]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you struggled between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit. How can you rely on God's power to choose the Spirit in similar situations?

Day 3: Faith Manifested in Works

Works of faith are the tangible expressions of our good resolves, brought to life by faith in God's power. These works are not separate from our intentions but are the visible manifestations of them, made possible through divine strength. This process requires us to rely on God's power rather than our own, transforming our intentions into acts of love and service. Through these works, Christ is glorified in us, and we in Him, as we become the kind of people who marvel at His appearing rather than fear it. [04:39]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: What is one good resolve you have that has yet to be manifested in action? How can you take a step of faith today to bring it to life?

Day 4: Grace as the Source of Power

The grace of God is the source of the power that animates our faith, enabling us to fulfill our resolves and produce works of faith. This grace is undeserved and flows from God's infinite resources, reminding us of the gift of divine empowerment. It is by this grace that we are able to live the Christian life, through His power and for His glory. Understanding this interconnectedness of grace, power, faith, and glory offers a comprehensive view of the Christian journey, emphasizing the role of divine intervention in our spiritual growth. [06:47]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on God's grace and less on your own strength? How can you practically do this today?

Day 5: Living by Grace, Power, and Glory

The Christian life is a journey lived by God's grace, through His power, and for His glory. This interconnectedness is essential for understanding the Christian journey, as it emphasizes the necessity of divine intervention in our spiritual growth. By relying on God's grace and power, we are able to fulfill our resolves and produce works of faith that glorify Christ. This life of faith is not self-generated but is a response to God's grace, which provides the power needed to transform our intentions into visible acts of love and service. [09:29]

Colossians 1:10-11 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."

Reflection: How can you intentionally live today in a way that reflects God's grace, power, and glory? What specific actions can you take to align your life with this calling?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, we delve into the profound prayer of Paul, which is centered on the glorification of Christ and our transformation to marvel at Him upon His return. The passage emphasizes the necessity of God making us worthy of His calling and fulfilling every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power. This transformation is essential for us to be fitted to marvel at Christ when He comes. The prayer is a plea for God to bring our good intentions to fruition, acknowledging that we lack the capacity to do so on our own. Paul reminds us of the struggle between our flesh and the Spirit, as he expressed in Romans 7:18, where he acknowledges the desire to do good but not the ability to carry it out without divine intervention.

The process of fulfilling good resolves is intricately linked to works of faith. These works are not separate from the resolves but are the manifestation of them, brought to life by faith in God's power. This faith is not self-generated but is a response to God's grace, which provides the power needed to transform our intentions into visible acts of love and service. The ultimate goal is that through these works of faith, Christ is glorified in us, and we in Him, as we become the kind of people who marvel at His appearing rather than fear it.

Paul concludes by highlighting that all of this accords with the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. This grace is the source of the power that animates our faith, enabling us to fulfill our resolves and produce works of faith. It is a reminder that the Christian life is lived by God's grace, through His power, and for His glory. This passage offers a dense and thorough description of the Christian life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of grace, power, faith, and glory.

Key Takeaways

1. The prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 is a call for God to make us worthy of His calling by fulfilling our resolves for good and works of faith. This transformation is necessary for us to marvel at Christ's return, highlighting the importance of divine intervention in our spiritual growth. [01:00]
2. Our inability to fulfill good resolves on our own is a reminder of the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul acknowledges this struggle in Romans 7:18, emphasizing the need for God's power to bring our good intentions to fruition. [02:54]
3. Works of faith are the visible manifestation of our good resolves, brought to life by faith in God's power. This process requires us to rely on divine strength rather than our own, transforming our intentions into acts of love and service. [04:39]
4. The grace of God is the source of the power that animates our faith, enabling us to fulfill our resolves and produce works of faith. This grace is undeserved and flows from God's infinite resources, reminding us of the gift of divine empowerment. [06:47]
5. The Christian life is lived by God's grace, through His power, and for His glory. This interconnectedness of grace, power, faith, and glory offers a comprehensive understanding of the Christian journey, emphasizing the role of divine intervention in our spiritual growth. [09:29]
** [09:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Christ Glorified in His Saints
[00:43] - Praying for Worthiness
[01:21] - Fulfillment of Good Resolves
[02:15] - God's Role in Our Goodness
[02:54] - Struggle of Flesh and Spirit
[03:23] - Power Beyond Ourselves
[04:20] - Works of Faith Explained
[05:03] - Faith and God's Power
[05:36] - Glorification Through Works
[06:09] - Marveling at Christ's Return
[06:28] - Grace and Power
[07:09] - Fulfilled Resolves
[08:31] - Grace, Power, and Glory
[09:15] - Living the Christian Life
[09:48] - Future Exploration

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- Romans 7:18

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Observation Questions:

What is the main purpose of Paul's prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, and how does it relate to the glorification of Christ? [00:25]
According to the sermon, what does Paul mean by being "worthy of His calling"? How is this worthiness achieved? [00:43]
How does Paul describe the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit in Romans 7:18, and how does this relate to our ability to fulfill good resolves? [02:54]
What role does faith play in transforming our good intentions into visible acts of love and service, according to the sermon? [04:39]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of being "fitted to marvel at Christ" upon His return challenge or encourage believers in their daily walk with God? [01:00]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that divine intervention is necessary for spiritual growth and fulfilling good resolves? [02:54]
How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's grace, power, and our faith in producing works of faith? [06:47]
What does it mean for Christ to be glorified in us, and us in Him, as described in the sermon? How does this impact our understanding of the Christian life? [09:29]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt unable to fulfill a good intention on your own. How can you invite God's power into similar situations in the future? [02:54]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of divine intervention in our spiritual growth. What practical steps can you take to rely more on God's strength rather than your own? [03:23]
Consider the ways in which your faith has been animated by God's grace. How can you actively seek to transform your good intentions into acts of love and service this week? [04:39]
How can you cultivate a mindset that marvels at Christ's return rather than fears it? What changes might you need to make in your daily life to align with this perspective? [06:09]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle with the flesh versus the Spirit. What specific prayer or action can you implement to seek God's intervention in this struggle? [02:54]
The sermon highlights the interconnectedness of grace, power, faith, and glory. How can you intentionally live out this interconnectedness in your relationships and community? [09:29]
Reflect on the concept of being glorified in Christ and Him in you. How does this understanding influence your identity and purpose as a believer? [09:48]

Sermon Clips

"he's praying toward namely that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of Faith by his power because if that doesn't happen we won't be fitted to Marvel at him when he comes and so the purpose of that is stated Again by him being glorified in us and we in him" [00:00:45]

"basically he's praying that God would fulfill every resolve for good right now how does he do that, how does God answer the prayer I pray for you that our God May fulfill so asking God to bring to active reality and completion resolves of goodness now we don't have the capacity in ourselves even to come up with resolves for truly goodness let alone complete them" [00:02:22]

"do you remember what Paul said back in Romans 7 18 I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh and the reason he had to qualify is because he has the Holy Spirit within him, there is something good in Paul namely the Holy Spirit but as far as his flesh is concerned nothing Good's gonna come of it" [00:02:48]

"and then he expresses the frustration like this for I have the desire to do what is right but not the ability to fulfill it to carry it out so left to his flesh it wouldn't really resolve anything good and without some power beyond himself even what he can conceive of as a right resolve isn't going to happen" [00:03:10]

"grant that every faint desire I have to do a good thing think a right thought feel a good feeling would you please bring it to reality now what is this and here is the completing of a good resolve and a work of Faith separate things I don't think so what would that be a work of faith" [00:03:42]

"the way God fulfills good resolves in US is by turning them into works that you can see you can actually do it let your good deeds be seen by man that they may glorify God that turning resolves into Works how by Faith by faith in what by faith in power that's not our own" [00:04:24]

"you've got God's power being prayed down it manifests itself through a faith that lays hold on the power and Promises of God and the effect is that a resolve becomes a work it's not left in your head with no fruit it actually becomes a lived out beautiful work of love" [00:04:54]

"when we become this kind of person who lives a life of works of Faith by dependent on God's power completing resolves for good then when he comes Christ will be glorified in us and we in him it's another way of saying back in the preceding verses that the way we become the kind of people who Marvel at the Lord" [00:05:33]

"at his appearing rather than being terrified at the Lord at his appearing is by this prayer being answered and God's power manifesting Itself by enabling our faith to lay hold on his power to fulfill these resolves as works of faith now that's almost the whole picture" [00:06:02]

"this power is Flowing from the infinite free resources of God's grace that doesn't need anything it is all gift and what it gives is power and what the power does is animate faith and what faith does is lay hold on God's enabling fulfilling resolve to complete a good intention so that it becomes a visible work of Faith" [00:06:54]

"grace leads to power or gives rise to God's power which is laid Hold On by faith which yields get rid of this Arrow so don't get all mixed up here what you could call fulfilled resolves or you can call them works of faith it all starts with God's grace" [00:07:23]

"we live it ultimately by God's grace as the root of everything we live through God's power As We Lay hold on it by faith and we live it for God's glory all of that is in that amazing verse and we're going to come back one more time now to this section and talk about" [00:09:17]

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Transforming Intentions: Marveling at Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Worthiness and Transformation

Day 2: The Struggle and Divine Power

Day 3: Faith Manifested in Works

Day 4: Grace as the Source of Power

Day 5: Living by Grace, Power, and Glory

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Transforming Intentions: Marveling at Christ's Return

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