Understanding the Word: Surrender, Faith, and Spiritual Growth
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of understanding the purpose of the Word of God. He explains that the Word is meant to bring a distinction between the soul and the spirit, and highlights the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. He encourages the congregation to seek knowledge of God and His Word, not relying on natural reasoning or a solish understanding. The pastor then emphasizes the importance of the blood of Jesus and the unity of the family of believers. He shares personal experiences of never getting into a fight during school, attributing it to being part of God's family.
The pastor then discusses the importance of faith and understanding the word of God. He challenges the mindset that God is too big and we are unworthy to comprehend Him, stating that God has revealed Himself and His plans to those who love Him through His Spirit. The pastor also highlights the concept of surrendering one's soulish desires and turning to God for salvation, emphasizing the need to repent and surrender all to Him.
The pastor then delves into the importance of revelation knowledge and the levels of spiritual maturity. He explains that revelation knowledge comes from the spirit, and it is necessary to know it in our hearts. He mentions the levels of maturity, starting with information, which is obtained by hearing and receiving the Word of God. However, the next level is knowledge, where the information is transferred from the book to the brain. The pastor emphasizes that many people in churches have knowledge but lack understanding, which is the next level of maturity. Understanding comes when we act upon the knowledge we have, and without obedience, there is no true understanding.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of true repentance and surrendering to the Lord. He highlights that simply saying words of repentance or surrendering without truly meaning it is meaningless. The pastor encourages the congregation to understand that when they surrender all to God, they are submitting to His word, will, and the work of His Holy Spirit in their lives. By doing so, they open themselves up to the revelation of the deep things of God that are yet to be known.
The sermon concludes with the pastor discussing the three-fold nature of human beings: spirit, soul, and body. He emphasizes that according to the Word of God, we are made up of these three components. The pastor suggests that many of our problems in life stem from our thoughts, wants, and feelings. The solution to aligning our soulish man and flesh with the will of God is to allow the Word of God to renew our minds. By transforming our minds through the Word, we gain the ability to discipline our lives and yield to our spirit.
Key Takeaways:
- The Word of God is meant to bring a distinction between the soul and the spirit, and it is crucial for believers to grasp this revelation in their spirit. Many people try to serve God with their fleshly desires instead of surrendering to the Word and God's plan ([49:33]).
- God has revealed Himself and His plans to those who love Him through His Spirit. It is through the revelation of the Spirit that believers can comprehend and receive the word of God. This challenges the mindset that God is too big and we are unworthy to comprehend Him ([1:02:45]).
- Understanding comes when we act upon the knowledge we have, and without obedience, there is no true understanding. Many people in churches have knowledge but lack understanding, which is the next level of maturity ([1:15:23]).
- True repentance and surrendering to the Lord should be accompanied by actions that align with what is prayed for. When believers surrender all to God, they are submitting to His word, will, and the work of His Holy Spirit in their lives ([1:28:56]).
- The solution to aligning our soulish man and flesh with the will of God is to allow the Word of God to renew our minds. By transforming our minds through the Word, we gain the ability to discipline our lives and yield to our spirit ([1:42:12]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. 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."
2. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16: "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. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, 'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."
3. Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 4:12 say about the nature and power of the Word of God?
2. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, how does the Spirit of God help believers understand the things of God?
3. What is the consequence of rejecting knowledge according to Hosea 4:6?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Word of God distinguish between the soul and the spirit as described in Hebrews 4:12?
2. How does the Spirit reveal the deep things of God to those who love Him as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:9-16?
3. What does Hosea 4:6 imply about the importance of knowledge in our relationship with God?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you relied on your own understanding rather than seeking God's Word. How could you have approached it differently?
2. Can you identify an area in your life where you are struggling to surrender to God's will? What is one step you can take this week to submit to His will in that area?
3. Think about a time when you had knowledge of God's Word but failed to act upon it. How can you ensure obedience in the future?
4. What is one practical way you can allow the Word of God to renew your mind this week?
5. Can you think of a specific situation where your thoughts, wants, or feelings led you astray? How can you use the Word of God to align your desires with His will in similar situations?
Devotional
Day 1: Understanding the Distinction Between Soul and Spirit
The Word of God is a powerful tool that brings clarity to the distinction between the soul and the spirit. It is crucial for believers to grasp this revelation in their spirit, rather than trying to serve God with their fleshly desires. Surrendering to the Word and God's plan is the key to this understanding ([49:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjhna6ZrqM&t=2958s)).
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: Reflect on your understanding of the difference between soul and spirit. How can you apply this understanding to your daily walk with God?
Day 2: Comprehending God Through His Spirit
God has revealed Himself and His plans to those who love Him through His Spirit. This revelation allows believers to comprehend and receive the word of God, challenging the mindset that God is too big and we are unworthy to comprehend Him ([1:02:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjhna6ZrqM&t=3750s)).
1 Corinthians 2:10 - "These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
Reflection: How can you open your heart more to the revelation of God's Spirit? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 3: Acting Upon Knowledge for True Understanding
Understanding comes when we act upon the knowledge we have. Without obedience, there is no true understanding. Many people in churches have knowledge but lack understanding, which is the next level of spiritual maturity ([1:15:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjhna6ZrqM&t=4508s)).
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: What is one piece of knowledge from the Word of God that you can act upon today to deepen your understanding?
Day 4: True Repentance and Surrendering to the Lord
True repentance and surrendering to the Lord should be accompanied by actions that align with what is prayed for. When believers surrender all to God, they are submitting to His word, will, and the work of His Holy Spirit in their lives ([1:28:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjhna6ZrqM&t=5321s)).
Acts 3:19 - "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to surrender to God? How can you take steps towards true repentance and surrender today?
Day 5: Aligning Our Thoughts with God's Will
The solution to aligning our soulish man and flesh with the will of God is to allow the Word of God to renew our minds. By transforming our minds through the Word, we gain the ability to discipline our lives and yield to our spirit ([1:42:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjhna6ZrqM&t=6117s)).
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 way you can allow the Word of God to renew your mind today? How can this transformation help you align your thoughts with God's will?
Quotes
1. "A lot of people they memorize the Bible they memorize scriptures but they still live in defeat because it comes a point that you have to obey what you have memorized so it's better to know one scripture and Obey it than to know the whole thing and not obey it amen amen that's good I like that." [58:08]
2. "Wisdom is what happens when you begin to live in the Revelation knowledge of Christ in you and you begin to act upon that knowledge and obedience and you walk in the wisdom of God when you have the wisdom of God you have everything you need to overcome." [01:00:01]
3. "Prayer means nothing if you don't do what you say when you pray. Prayers are just a little routine anybody can say a prayer, but it's something else to believe it enough to act upon it, act like you meant what you said when you prayed." [52:30]
4. "Understanding only comes at the moment you act upon the knowledge you have if there's no obedience to the knowledge there's no understanding" [57:03]
5. "The word of God is quick it is powerful it is sharper than any two-edged sword...the word of God is alive, it's powerful and it's sharp." ([40:03])
6. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." #!!01:04:55!!#
7. "I can't even understand how he would love me at all and so our mind is just running through all of these uh these these these fleshly ideas and unworthy ideas and and sinful nature thing and and I'm only human I can't live it I can't do it but God says you can but you don't do it in yourself you do it by the revelation of his spirit in you." #!!49:58!!#
8. "But when you get your mind renewed you're transformed Spirit soul and Body by the renewing of your mind then you can you know the will of God and when you know the will of God you can obey the will of God you can't obey something you don't know..." #!!47:24!!#
9. "The main reason our body is messed up is because our soul is messed up... the soul is the Greek word Su and it's made up of the Mind the will And the emotions... it's contrary to the spirit and so we have to deal with this solish man it's called the mind the will the emotions my thoughts my wants my feelings and how many of you can just kind of reason this a little bit all of my problems in my life have been because of what I thought I wanted and I felt and the only way to bring your soulish man and your flesh into the will of God Is by allowing the word of God to renew you by the transforming of your mind." #!!45:36!!#
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