Whole-Hearted Devotion: Embracing Grace and Justice
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God desires our whole-hearted devotion, not just lip service. We began by acknowledging the importance of honoring God with our first and best, as taught in Proverbs 3:9. This principle extends beyond finances to every aspect of our lives, encouraging us to trust God with our first fruits, knowing that He will bless the rest. This trust is not just about material provision but encompasses our relationships, our work, and our spiritual journey.
We then delved into the book of Revelation, focusing on the imagery and messages within chapters 15 and 16. The vision of the seven angels with the seven last plagues serves as a reminder of God's ultimate justice and mercy. God's wrath, as depicted in Revelation, is not merely punitive but serves three primary purposes: to produce repentance, to perform justice, and to purify the earth. These acts of judgment are intertwined with God's mercy, offering humanity a chance to turn back to Him.
The message also highlighted the importance of understanding God's wrath as a reflection of His love and mercy. God's judgments are designed to bring people to repentance, to correct and guide them back to Him. We are reminded that sometimes God allows us to face the consequences of our actions to awaken us to our need for Him. This is a call to examine our hearts and turn back to God, acknowledging our sins and seeking His forgiveness.
As we navigate the complexities of Revelation, we are encouraged to see the hope and grace that God offers. Despite the severity of the judgments, God's grace is available to all who choose to accept it. The choice is clear: we can either accept God's grace or face His wrath. This is a call to action for believers to share the message of God's love and grace with those who have yet to experience it.
Key Takeaways:
- Whole-hearted Devotion: God desires more than just our words; He seeks our entire being. When we honor Him with our first and best, He blesses the rest of our lives, teaching us to trust Him in all areas, not just financially. [32:56]
- Purpose of God's Wrath: God's wrath serves to produce repentance, perform justice, and purify the earth. It is a reflection of His love and mercy, designed to bring people back to Him and correct their wayward paths. [45:37]
- Consequences and Repentance: Sometimes God allows us to face the consequences of our actions to awaken us to our need for Him. This is an opportunity for self-examination and repentance, turning back to God with a humble heart. [49:21]
- The Choice of Grace or Wrath: We are presented with a choice: accept God's grace or face His wrath. This decision is crucial, as it determines our eternal destiny. God's grace is available to all who choose to accept it. [01:00:37]
- Sharing the Message of Hope: As believers, we are called to share the message of God's love and grace with those who have yet to experience it. Despite the severity of the judgments, there is hope and grace available through Christ. [01:16:10]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[32:28] - Honoring God with Our Best
[32:56] - Trusting God with Our First Fruits
[34:28] - The Upside-Down Economy of God
[35:52] - Invitation to Connect
[40:10] - Diving into Revelation
[42:23] - Imagery of the Sea of Glass
[43:53] - God's Law and the Tent of Witness
[45:37] - Theology of God's Wrath
[46:41] - Producing Repentance
[49:21] - Consequences and Turning Back
[51:19] - Allowing God's Work
[51:55] - Performing Justice
[54:07] - Purifying the Earth
[56:09] - The Final Judgments
[01:00:37] - Accepting Grace or Facing Wrath
[01:16:10] - Sharing the Message of Hope
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 3:9-10
2. Revelation 15:1-8
3. Revelation 16:1-21
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Proverbs 3:9-10, what is the promise attached to honoring God with our first fruits? How does this principle extend beyond finances? [32:56]
2. In Revelation 15:1-8, what imagery is used to describe the scene in heaven, and what do the seven angels represent? [40:10]
3. What are the three primary purposes of God's wrath as discussed in the sermon? [45:37]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's wrath and His mercy? [45:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the principle of giving God our first and best apply to areas of life beyond finances, such as relationships and work? [32:56]
2. What does the imagery of the sea of glass mingled with fire in Revelation 15 symbolize, and how does it relate to the saints' journey through tribulation? [42:23]
3. How can understanding God's wrath as a reflection of His love and mercy change a believer's perspective on facing consequences for their actions? [49:21]
4. What does the choice between accepting God's grace or facing His wrath mean for believers and non-believers, according to the sermon? [01:00:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where you are giving God the leftovers instead of your first and best? How can you change this? [32:56]
2. Have you ever experienced a situation where facing the consequences of your actions led you to repentance and a deeper relationship with God? How did that experience shape your faith? [49:21]
3. In what ways can you actively share the message of God's love and grace with those who have yet to experience it? Identify one person you can reach out to this week. [01:16:10]
4. How do you respond to trials and tribulations in your life? Do you find yourself turning towards God or away from Him? What steps can you take to ensure your response aligns with seeking God's guidance? [01:05:20]
5. Consider the concept of God's wrath as a form of justice. How does this understanding impact your view of justice in the world today? [51:55]
6. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are living in a way that reflects whole-hearted devotion to God, not just in words but in actions? [32:28]
7. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship, even in the midst of challenges, similar to the saints singing the song of Moses in Revelation? [01:16:42]
Devotional
Day 1: Whole-hearted Devotion to God
God desires our entire being, not just our words. When we honor Him with our first and best, He blesses the rest of our lives, teaching us to trust Him in all areas, not just financially. This principle, rooted in Proverbs 3:9, extends beyond finances to every aspect of our lives, encouraging us to trust God with our first fruits, knowing that He will bless the rest. This trust is not just about material provision but encompasses our relationships, our work, and our spiritual journey. By giving God our whole-hearted devotion, we align ourselves with His will and open our lives to His blessings. [32:56]
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from giving God your first and best? What steps can you take today to offer that area to Him fully?
Day 2: Understanding the Purpose of God's Wrath
God's wrath serves to produce repentance, perform justice, and purify the earth. It is a reflection of His love and mercy, designed to bring people back to Him and correct their wayward paths. The vision of the seven angels with the seven last plagues in Revelation 15 and 16 serves as a reminder of God's ultimate justice and mercy. God's wrath is not merely punitive but serves three primary purposes: to produce repentance, to perform justice, and to purify the earth. These acts of judgment are intertwined with God's mercy, offering humanity a chance to turn back to Him. [45:37]
"For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it." (Psalm 94:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: How do you perceive God's wrath in your life? Can you identify a situation where you felt God's corrective hand guiding you back to Him, and how did you respond?
Day 3: Consequences and the Call to Repentance
Sometimes God allows us to face the consequences of our actions to awaken us to our need for Him. This is an opportunity for self-examination and repentance, turning back to God with a humble heart. Understanding God's wrath as a reflection of His love and mercy, we are reminded that His judgments are designed to bring people to repentance, to correct and guide them back to Him. This is a call to examine our hearts and turn back to God, acknowledging our sins and seeking His forgiveness. [49:21]
"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent." (Revelation 3:19, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent consequence you faced. How can you use this experience as an opportunity to examine your heart and turn back to God with humility and repentance?
Day 4: The Choice of Grace or Wrath
We are presented with a choice: accept God's grace or face His wrath. This decision is crucial, as it determines our eternal destiny. Despite the severity of the judgments, God's grace is available to all who choose to accept it. The message of Revelation encourages us to see the hope and grace that God offers. The choice is clear, and it is a call to action for believers to share the message of God's love and grace with those who have yet to experience it. [01:00:37]
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it." (Deuteronomy 30:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: What does choosing God's grace look like in your daily life? How can you actively make this choice today in your thoughts, actions, and interactions with others?
Day 5: Sharing the Message of Hope
As believers, we are called to share the message of God's love and grace with those who have yet to experience it. Despite the severity of the judgments, there is hope and grace available through Christ. The book of Revelation, while complex, offers a vision of hope and grace that is available to all who choose to accept it. This is a call to action for believers to share the message of God's love and grace with those who have yet to experience it, ensuring that others have the opportunity to choose grace over wrath. [01:16:10]
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of God's love and grace? How can you share this message with them today in a way that is gentle and respectful?
Quotes
1) "Because God cares about even your finances. I know this from experience. That God has always given me what I need when I need it. Not always what I want, but what I need. Not always what I want, but what I need. Not always what I want, but what I need. There's a passage in Proverbs 3. King Solomon's writing to his son and he's giving him advice. He says this in 3 .9. Honor the Lord with your wealth. With the best part of everything you produce. He's telling him this principle. When you honor God with your first, He's going to honor the rest. When you honor God with your best, He can bless the rest. I pray that not only in our finances, but with our whole life, every bit of it, we're giving him the best. We're not giving him the leftovers." [32:28] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "And so what is this? This tent of meeting? It's God's law going out. It's God's law and we're going to kind of dive into what law that law is and and how it affects us. And then we see the smoke filling the temple. What is that? This is this is the presence and the power and the glory of God. Where does God's presence reside? Historically in the temple. I mean, he's everywhere. It doesn't contain him, but we know primarily like in Scripture. The temple represents the place of God's dwelling place. So he's dwelling in the temple. These are his words. This is his assignment. This is his doing. He is the one sending out the Angels. He's the one judging the earth. He is the one that's sending out the bowls." [43:53] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "God's wrath is also judgment. It's also his mercy. I hope that if you've learned nothing else through this book of Revelation is that there's always God's mercy in the mix of God's wrath, and so God's wrath in Revelation. Revelation specifically has three main purposes, and the first one is this. It produces repentance. Why is God doing all this thing? Why is he bringing all these judgments? He's trying to get people's attention. He's trying to help them understand that what they're doing is wrong. They're against God. There's a bigger judgment coming, and he's trying to get them to come and repent. All through scripture, you see God bringing some kind of judgment, some kind of consequence for people's lawlessness in their actions and their idolatry." [46:41] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Here's what I know. God will often tell you, take away his hand, and allow us to fall headlong into our own consequences. Why does he do this? It's for our own good, because he wants us to realize our need for him. I'm so glad that God took his hand off me at one point in my life, so I've come to realize that the consequences that I'm feeling is because of my waywardness towards him, and it brought me back to redemption and repentance. Also, we know that it takes some people really hard crushing for them to come to faith, and sometimes people have to hit rock bottom so they can go up. They're seeking something, and they don't find it, and they have to realize at one point, oh, there's nothing else here for me. I know I need to come to God, because he's the only answer at this moment." [49:21] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "And here's the message today. As I read this, there's going to be people that no matter how bad it gets, they're not going to come to Christ. This should break your heart. This should, and this is what it shouldn't do. Well, they're not going to come to Jesus anyway. I'm not going to go talk to them. It should break your heart and you should go talk to them because there are people that will not, but there are people that will. There's a great number of people that will and that realize. And so maybe today you're in here, we're all in church. So I'm guessing most of us are believers. Some of you may not be, and I'm glad you're here." [01:15:36] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "And I pray that you choose God over everything else. I want to have the worship team come up, and I'll read some things in the altar team. I want to close with this. What's your song? What's your song today? Maybe it's the song of the saints, the unrepentant, or the song of self, or maybe some of the words mingle. Maybe you don't believe God's perfect. Maybe you make your own song. Today, I pray that you choose Christ, and that your song changes, and that the lyrics change. What does your mouth proclaim? What does your mouth proclaim? How does your heart inform it? And what's your soul's response to Christ? Is it this? Praise you, God, you're so good. Or is it, hmm, I can't say the words because we're in church. It's your fault. I hate you. Or is it, there's no God. I'm God." [01:19:19] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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