Upright Spiritual Posture: Transforming Faith Through Commitment
Summary
In the message delivered by Pastor Matt Kusak at EDIFI Church in Charlotte, NC, the focus is on the importance of spiritual posture and how to intensify it. The message begins with an analogy of physical posture, emphasizing the need for believers to maintain an upright spiritual stance in their walk with God. Pastor Matt Kusak draws from Philippians 4 to provide context and depth to his message, highlighting the Apostle Paul's teachings and experiences.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote a significant portion of the New Testament, is presented as a transformed figure who, despite his past as a persecutor of Christians, had a profound encounter with Jesus that changed his life. This transformation is evident in Paul's writings from prison, where he expresses joy in Christ despite his circumstances. The message underscores that joy is not dependent on external situations but on the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Matt Kusak discusses the concept of spiritual circumcision, not in the physical sense, but as a metaphor for cutting off habits, attitudes, and anything that hinders one's relationship with God. He emphasizes that this process is a heart issue, requiring a spiritual operation by the Holy Spirit to remove what does not belong to God.
Commitment to God is another key theme. Pastor Matt Kusak encourages individuals to commit to fasting and prayer, to seek God's work in their lives, and to focus on what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and admirable. He references Romans 12:1-2, where Paul urges believers not to conform to the world but to be transformed by the renewal of their minds, which is an act of worship.
The message also touches on the human tendency to focus on the negative, using the example of being distracted by something stuck in someone's teeth. Pastor Matt Kusak challenges listeners to mature in their faith by seeing the good in the world and recognizing that only God can bring about true change.
Prayer is highlighted as a powerful tool that may not always change circumstances but will always change the individual. Pastor Matt Kusak shares personal moments of weakness and how prayer strengthens him, transforming his posture from burdened to uplifted.
Contentment is the final point addressed. In a generation that is never satisfied, Pastor Matt Kusak calls for contentment in all circumstances. He shares Paul's secret to contentment, which is found in the presence of God. The message concludes with an encouragement to worship and to lift burdens through praise, as there is always a reason to be content as long as there is life.
Key Takeaways:
- Spiritual posture is about maintaining an upright stance in one's walk with God, which involves cutting off anything that hinders a relationship with Him. Just as physical posture can affect one's health, spiritual posture affects one's faith and relationship with God. It's a daily commitment to align oneself with God's will and to remove distractions and negative influences. [27:59]
- Commitment to God is not just about external actions but also about the internal process of renewing the mind. By focusing on what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and admirable, believers can resist the patterns of the world and experience transformation. This commitment is a form of worship and requires a conscious effort to align thoughts with God's standards. [30:36]
- Prayer is a transformative practice that changes the one who prays more than the circumstances around them. It's a tool for personal growth and spiritual strength, allowing individuals to shift their focus from their problems to God's power. Through prayer, believers can find peace and confidence, regardless of their situation. [34:07]
- Contentment is a state of heart that can be learned in any circumstance. It is not dependent on material possessions or external conditions but on the presence of God. By finding satisfaction in God's provision and presence, believers can experience true joy and peace, regardless of their life situation. [37:10]
- Worship is an act of surrender and a declaration of God's worthiness. It's an opportunity to cast off burdens and to proclaim faith in God's sovereignty. When believers worship, they are not only expressing adoration but also aligning their hearts with God's purposes and experiencing spiritual liberation. [37:43]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Philippians 4:1-9 (NIV)
> "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul instruct the Philippians to do in Philippians 4:1-4? How does he describe his relationship with them? [18:56]
2. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what should believers do instead of worrying? What is promised as a result? [20:15]
3. In Philippians 4:8-9, what types of things does Paul encourage believers to focus their thoughts on? [20:15]
4. How does Pastor Matt Kusak describe the concept of spiritual circumcision in the sermon? [27:29]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of rejoicing in the Lord always, even in difficult circumstances? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual posture? [18:16]
2. What does it mean to have a "circumcision of the heart," and how does this process affect a believer's spiritual posture? [27:29]
3. How can focusing on what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and admirable transform a believer's mind and actions? [30:06]
4. Pastor Matt Kusak mentions that prayer may not always change circumstances but will always change the individual. How does this perspective influence the way believers approach prayer? [34:07]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual posture. Are there any habits, attitudes, or distractions that you need to "cut off" to align more closely with God's will? How can you begin this process? [27:29]
2. Pastor Matt Kusak encourages commitment to fasting and prayer. How can you incorporate these practices into your daily routine to seek God's work in your life? [29:01]
3. Think about a recent situation where you felt anxious or worried. How can you apply Philippians 4:6-7 to find peace in similar situations in the future? [20:15]
4. Identify one area of your life where you struggle with contentment. How can you practice finding satisfaction in God's presence and provision, as Paul describes in Philippians 4:11-13? [34:42]
5. Pastor Matt Kusak challenges us to see the good in the world and mature in our faith. What is one practical step you can take this week to focus on the positive and recognize God's work around you? [31:10]
6. How can you use worship as a tool to lift your burdens and proclaim faith in God's sovereignty? Share a personal experience where worship helped you feel spiritually uplifted. [37:43]
7. Consider a time when prayer transformed your perspective or attitude. How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily life to experience ongoing spiritual growth and strength? [34:07]
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating a Righteous Spiritual Stance
A spiritual posture aligned with God's will is essential for a healthy faith journey. It involves a daily commitment to cut off distractions and negative influences that hinder one's relationship with the Divine. This upright stance is not just about outward appearances but reflects a heart deeply rooted in God's truth. [27:59]
Colossians 3:1-2 - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Reflection: What distractions or negative influences can you identify in your life that may be affecting your spiritual posture? How can you begin to remove them?
Day 2: Embracing Transformation Through Renewal
True commitment to God transcends external actions, involving an internal process of mind renewal. By focusing on the pure and admirable, believers can resist worldly patterns and undergo a profound transformation, which is an act of worship and a testament to God's transformative power. [30:36]
Ephesians 4:22-24 - "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What are some worldly patterns you find yourself struggling with, and how can you actively renew your mind to align with God's standards?
Day 3: Prayer as a Catalyst for Personal Change
Prayer is a powerful practice that transforms the individual, shifting focus from personal struggles to God's omnipotence. It is through prayer that one can find peace and confidence, changing one's spiritual posture from burdened to uplifted, regardless of external circumstances. [34:07]
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to help shift your focus from your problems to God's power?
Day 4: Learning Contentment in God's Presence
Contentment is a state of the heart that can be cultivated in any circumstance. It is not reliant on material wealth or external conditions but is found in the presence of God. This divine satisfaction allows believers to experience true joy and peace, regardless of life's ups and downs. [37:10]
1 Timothy 6:6-8 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with contentment, and how can you seek to find peace and satisfaction in God's presence?
Day 5: Worship as an Expression of Surrender and Faith
Worship is an act of surrender, a declaration of God's worthiness, and an opportunity to cast off burdens. It aligns the worshiper's heart with God's purposes, offering spiritual liberation and a chance to proclaim faith in His sovereignty. [37:43]
Psalm 29:2 - "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."
Reflection: What burdens do you need to lift through worship, and how can you make worship a more integral part of your daily life?
Quotes
1) "We must learn that we need to be circumcised, and the circumcision is the circumcision of the heart...our hearts need to be circumcised today." [27:59] (Download)
2) "In order to intensify our posture with the Lord, we have to learn to cut off...things that are not adding value to our life but they're taking it away." [26:24] (Download)
3) "Prayer will not always change your circumstance, but prayer will always change you...it'll cause you to cause a chain reaction into your surroundings." [34:07] (Download)
4) "The secret of being content is only found in the presence of God...as long as he is in the presence of God he has everything he will ever need." [36:29] (Download)
5) "Sometimes during worship, you just got to say, 'Devil get off me, problems get off of me, circumstances get off of me,' and begin to raise your hands in worship and adoration." [37:43] (Download)
6) "If you want to intensify your posture in the Lord, you first have to know how to be circumcised, the other thing is you have to learn how to be committed." [29:37] (Download)
7) "We are living in a generation that is never content, that is never satisfied, that always wants more...learning to be content in whatever circumstance you are living through." [34:42] (Download)
8) "It takes a mature person to look at their surrounding and still call it good...a spiritually postured person in the Lord can look at this world and say, 'God only you can and only you will.'" [32:19] (Download)
9) "We must learn to commit ourselves to the Lord...my first reaction when things go wrong is not to pray but to panic...some of us are numb because we've been holding on to things for too long." [30:06] (Download)
10) "Paul the Apostle...was adamant enough to actually write, 'Stop the quarreling because it's not helping.' If we want to learn how to walk in a good posture, we want to intensify our posture." [27:29] (Download)
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