Hey beautiful souls 🤗
I went to church today, and wow 😮 I just had to share this with you all because this sermon has literally been replaying in my mind since I left the service. You know those messages that just hit different? The ones that make you sit back and think, Wait, this is exactly what I needed to hear? That was today for me.
I am not trying to preach to anyone here, this isn't a content piece in that sense. This is just me sharing something that genuinely resonated with not just me, but everyone in the congregation today. Ever since the service ended, this message has been stuck in my brain, and I have been constantly thinking about it because honestly? This is what most of us do in our everyday spiritual lives without even realizing it.
Consider this more of a spiritual awakening moment that I felt compelled to share with my #hive family. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, I don't judge ☕ get comfortable, and let me tell you about this life changing sermon on "Knowing God for Yourself." The topic was Knowing God for Yourself and it really spoke to me.
The sermon topic Knowing God for Yourself emphasizes the importance of developing a personal, direct relationship with God rather than always depending on others to intercede or make spiritual decisions for us.
And here are the key points that really stoodout for me:
Key Points
1. Personal Relationship with God:
God desires a direct relationship with each of us.
We can approach Him personally through prayer and His Word.
Bible Reference: Jeremiah 29:13 says: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Bible Reference: Matthew 7:7 says: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
2. The Role of Spiritual Leaders:
Pastors and spiritual leaders are meant to guide and teach, not replace our personal relationship with God
It is appropriate to seek guidance and direction from mature believers.
However, we shouldn't become entirely dependent on them for every spiritual decision.
Bible Reference: Ephesians 4:11-12 says: So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
3. Discernment Through Personal Knowledge of God:
When we know God personally, we can discern truth from falsehood.
We can recognize when advice aligns with God's character and Word.
Personal prayer and Bible study help us develop spiritual discernment.
Bible Reference: 1 John 4:1 says: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
Bible Reference: Acts 17:11 says: Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
4. Avoiding Spiritual Dependence and Exploitation:
Some may take advantage of those who don't seek God personally.
Financial exploitation can occur when people rely entirely on others for spiritual guidance.
God's guidance is freely available to all who seek Him.
Bible Reference: Isaiah 55:1 says: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat
5. Practical Example: Making Life Decisions:
Important decisions (like marriage) should involve personal prayer and seeking God's will.
While seeking counsel is wise, the final decision should come through personal communion with God.
Bible Reference: Proverbs 3:5-6 says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Bible Reference: Proverbs 27:17 says: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Practical Applications
How to Know God for Yourself:
- Regular Prayer: Develop a consistent prayer life.
- Bible Study: Read and meditate on God's Word daily.
- Worship: Spend time in personal worship and reflection.
- Obedience: Follow God's commands as revealed in Scripture.
- Community: Fellowship with other believers while maintaining personal faith.
Balancing Personal Faith and Community Guidance:
- Seek advice from mature believers.
- Test all counsel against Scripture.
- Pray for confirmation before making major decisions.
- Don't abdicate personal responsibility for your spiritual life.
Conclusion
Knowing God for yourself is not about isolation from the church community, but about developing a mature, personal faith that can discern truth and seek God's will directly. This protects us from manipulation and helps us grow into the believers God wants us to be.
John 10:27 says: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
The main message was clear 💯 develop your own personal relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, and worship. Seek wise counsel when needed, but don't abdicate your personal responsibility to hear from God yourself. This protects you from manipulation and helps you grow into spiritual maturity.
It was really an eye opening sermon that challenged all of us to take our personal relationship with God more seriously.
What really struck me is how this applies to so many areas of our lives beyond just the marriage example the pastor gave. Career decisions, friendships, life choices, how often do we outsource our discernment instead of developing it ourselves?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, have you ever found yourself in a similar situation where you realized you needed to strengthen your personal relationship with God? Or maybe you have your own experiences with learning to discern truth from manipulation in spiritual settings?
This is definitely one of those sermons that I will be reflecting on for weeks to come. Sometimes God uses the simplest messages to shake us awake, you know?
Thanks for letting me share this spiritual moment with you, your support and engagement always mean the world to me 🤗
What resonated with you most from this message? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I would love to continue this conversation with you all 🤗❤️
I have listened to your advice 🤗