Bobby McDonald - Don’t Live The Christian Life Without Jesus Himself

Bobby McDonaldJuly 20, 202014mWatch on YouTube

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Speaker: Bobby McDonald Title: Don’t Live The Christian Life Without Jesus Himself Date: July 19, 2020 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is that true Christian living requires a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, rather than merely performing religious duties or outward acts of piety. The speaker warns against becoming lukewarm, where one maintains the outward appearance of Christianity while the heart is distant from God. The ultimate goal must be a desire to know and connect with God Himself, as this is the source of true joy, peace, and fulfillment.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Counting all things as loss for the surpassing value of knowing ChristPaul considered everything a loss compared to the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.

Stop trying to live the Christian life without meIt is easy for sincere Christians to fall into the trap of doing outward religious duties and fighting sin while their hearts drift away from actual fellowship with God.

Praying without real fellowshipPraying out of mere duty with a heart far from God is like being in an elevator with someone—physically close, but mentally a million miles apart.

Christianity is being taken up with the person of GodThe core of Christianity is loving God with all one's heart and desiring His presence, rather than just relying on rules, laws, or self-denial.

Crying out for God rather than just our perceived needsHuman nature tends to blindly cry out for random fixes like a child asking for a band-aid, but believers should truly long for God Himself.

God is the root of what we truly seekPeople often pray for money, jobs, or spouses, but what they are really looking for at the root is peace, provision, and love, which are found only in God.

Fullness of joy is found in His presenceTrue fullness of joy comes from being in the presence of God rather than in material abundance.Isaiah 45:15

A God who hides HimselfGod sometimes hides Himself to see if we truly want Him for who He is or if we only want what He can give us.

The danger of keeping Christianity while losing JesusThe greatest temptation in these last days is not to reject Christianity outright, but to maintain outward religious activities while slowly losing Jesus on the inside.

Using the word of God against deceptionSatan uses distraction and deception to pull believers away from knowing God, and the believer's weapon against these attacks is faith in the word of God.

Where is Jesus in our hearts?It is possible to be zealous for good external activities while Jesus is pushed into a corner by the cares of the world and outward religion.

The desire of God as the greatest pursuitQuoting Frederick Faber's poem, the speaker emphasizes that a passionate thirst and desire for God is the fuel for true obedience and the greatest pursuit in life.

Returning to simple devotion and intimacy with GodBelievers who have lost their first love must honestly return to the Lord, seeking a renewed joy, intimacy, and simple devotion to Jesus as their ultimate bridegroom.

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Bobby McDonald - Don’t Live The Christian Life Without Jesus Himself

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