Jeremy Utley & Bobby McDonald - Seek God's Smile

Jeremy UtleyJuly 11, 201725mWatch on YouTube

Speaker: Jeremy Utley & Bobby McDonald Title: Seek God's Smile Date: 07-09-2017 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 Christian obedience, while sometimes burdensome, should be fueled by the desire to see God's smile and pleasure. The speaker emphasizes that keeping oneself in God's love is key, and this connection—seeing God pleased with one's obedience—will make following commandments feel refreshing rather than a heavy cross. He encourages the congregation to proactively seek this light of favor.

Outline

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

Are God's commandments burdensome?First John 5:3 says God's commandments are not burdensome, but the speaker confesses that his own service and cross-bearing have sometimes felt heavy and burdensome.1 John 5:3

Looking up to see His smileRather than carrying the cross while gritting teeth and looking down, believers must proactively keep themselves in God's love and look up to see His pleased smile.

The light of His smile as our dearest treasureJust as the Father's pleasure shone upon Jesus at His baptism, the light of God's smile should be our greatest treasure that refreshes us in our obedience.

1. The humble and contrite heartGod declares in Isaiah that He looks to and is pleased with the one who is humble, contrite in spirit, and trembles at His word.

2. A heart completely and undivided towards GodThe eyes of the Lord roam the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are completely His and undivided.2 Chronicles 16:9

3. Fearing the Lord and waiting for His lovingkindnessThe eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him and wait with a real desire for His lovingkindness.Psalm 33:18

4. Confessing sin and resting in complete justificationWhen we confess our sin, God does not merely bring us to a neutral standing; He justifies us just as if we had always obeyed.

What do we truly desire in life?While worldly surveys show people simply want to be happy, a real Christian's primary desire is to see God happy and make Him smile.

Jesus came to do the Father's will and bring pleasureHebrews 10 explains that God did not take pleasure in old covenant sacrifices, but Jesus came to do God's will and deliver us from sin so God could finally have pleasure in His people.

Choosing what pleases God in daily decisionsSmall daily choices reveal whether we are living for ourselves or seeking to do something that edifies and brings a smile to God.

Overcoming the lie that godliness comes effortlesslySatan tries to discourage believers by making them think that truly godly people have natural qualities that make holiness easy, but this is a lie.

Every temptation is common to manGod provides a way of endurance through common temptations, and we are not alone in having to fight hard for victory.1 Corinthians 10:13

Jesus had to fight temptation tooBecause Jesus was tempted in all points just like us, we can take heart, stay in the fight, and know that God is smiling upon us even when we are struggling forward.

Related messages

Back to the catalog

NCCF Church

Jeremy Utley & Bobby McDonald - Seek God's Smile

Jeremy Utley · July 11, 2017 · 25m

Freedom from sin Following Jesus