About this Video

• Video Title: Bishop Ruddy Gracia En Directo - Servicio Miércoles
• Channel: Ruddy Gracia
• Speakers: Bishop Ruddy Gracia
• Duration: 01:34:36

Introduction

This live-streamed Wednesday service led by Bishop Ruddy Gracia focuses on overcoming internal idols and cultivating self-worth rooted in one's relationship with God, not external achievements or possessions. The sermon uses biblical examples to illustrate how pursuing worldly success as a source of self-worth ultimately leads to emptiness and dissatisfaction.

Key Takeaways

1. Self-worth stems from God, not external factors: The sermon emphasizes that true self-esteem originates from God's love and acceptance, not from career success, wealth, physical appearance, or worldly achievements.
2. Internal idols hinder spiritual growth: Bishop Gracia identifies "internal idols"—things we pursue believing they will bring happiness—as obstacles to a fulfilling relationship with God. These idols can be anything from wealth and power to physical attributes or social status.
3. Surrendering internal idols leads to true joy: The speaker encourages viewers to identify and surrender their internal idols to God, freeing themselves from the pursuit of fleeting pleasures and finding lasting fulfillment in their faith.
4. God's love is unconditional: The sermon uses the analogy of adoption to highlight God's unconditional love. He chooses us despite our flaws, offering a love and acceptance that surpasses any worldly achievement.
5. Focus on God, not worldly success: Bishop Gracia argues against prioritizing worldly success over a relationship with God. True fulfillment comes from following and serving God, not chasing external validation.

The transcript mentions the following verses:

• First Samuel 16:6-7: This passage discusses how God judges the heart, not outward appearances. The full quote from the transcript is: “Y aconteció que cuando ellos vinieron, él vio a Eliab y dijo, 'De cierto delante de Jehová está su ungido.' Este es el profeta Samuel viendo a todos los hermanos de David. Y cuando pasan los guerreros, dijo, 'Este es el ungido de Jehová.' Y Jehová respondió a Samuel, 'Esto viene de la misma boca de Dios.' Jehová respondió a Samuel, 'No mires a su parecer ni a lo grande de su estatura, porque yo lo desecho.' Porque Jehová no mira lo que mire el hombre, pues el hombre mira lo que está delante de sus ojos, pero Jehová mira el corazón.”

• Philippians 2:5-8: This passage describes the humility of Christ. The relevant part from the transcript is: “Haya pues en vosotros este sentir que hubo en también en Cristo Jesús. El cual siendo en forma de Dios, no estimó el ser igual a Dios como cosa a que aferrarse. Él tenía que entregar su deidad para morir por nosotros y la entregó. Si él no lo hubiera entregado, él no hubiera podido morir por nosotros, porque la vida no puede morir. Jesús no murió como Dios, murió como hombre.” Further details are given about this verse later in the transcript.

• Matthew 19:16: This verse recounts the encounter of Jesus with the rich young man who asks about eternal life. The relevant portion of the transcript is: "El joven rico llega donde Jesús y le dice, '¿Qué tengo que hacer para obtener la vida eterna?' Dice, 'Haz los mandamientos.' Tipo dijo, 'Ya lo hago.'"

• Genesis 3: This chapter describes the temptation of Adam and Eve. The transcript excerpt notes: "Satanás le dice al primer hombre y a la primera mujer, 'Si tú eres como Dios, tendrás la felicidad que no has obtenido.'"

• Daniel 4: This chapter relates the story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and subsequent humbling. The transcript excerpt is: "En el capítulo 4 del libro de Daniel vemos a Nabuconodosor y después de lo que él vio de Sadrc Mesac y Abel negó que cuando los eche en el horno de fuego salen victoriosos porque el hijo de Dios estaba en ese horno. El hombre cae de rodillas para ser más dramático y dice, 'Nadie adore a otro Dios que no sea el Dios de Sadrc, Mesak, Bénnego.'"

• Jeremiah 9:23-24: This passage speaks of true wisdom and knowledge coming from knowing God. The transcript quotes: “No se alabe el sabio en su sabiduría, fantoche, ni en su valentía el valiente, ni el rico en sus riquezas. Más alábese en esto el que se hubiere de alabar, en entenderme, en conocerme que yo soy Jehová.”

• First Timothy 6:17: This passage cautions the wealthy against pride and trusting in riches. The transcript states: “A los ricos de este siglo manda que no sean altivos, ni pongan la esperanza, o sea, ni ni pongan el corazón, ni su autoestima, ni su valor en las riquezas.”

• Ephesians 1:5: This verse speaks of God's predestination and adoption of believers. The transcript excerpt reads: “Habiéndonos predestinado para ser adoptados hijos suyos por medio de Jesucristo, según el puro afecto de su voluntad, para alabanza de la gloria de su gracia, con la cual nos hizo aceptos en el amado.”

  The sermon also references the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) and the story of Samson, Moses, Lot, and Solomon, but specific verses are not cited.

Here are the answers to the follow-up questions, based solely on the provided transcript:

1. What specific biblical examples does Bishop Gracia use to illustrate the dangers of internal idols? Bishop Gracia uses several biblical examples: Samson (whose idol was his strength), Moses (whose idol was his own self-importance), the Prodigal Son (whose idol was money), Lot (whose idols were prosperity and position), Solomon (whose idol was sensual pleasure), Nebuchadnezzar (whose idol was pride and power), and Judas Iscariot (whose idol was money). He also mentions the rich young man in Matthew 19, Absalom, Saul, and Cain. The sermon uses these figures to show how reliance on worldly things for self-worth leads to destruction or unfulfillment.

2. What are the three key questions posed near the end of the sermon, and how does Bishop Gracia answer them? The three questions are:

   • "¿Cómo descubro mi ídolo interior?" (How do I discover my inner idol?) The answer is that it's what controls your behavior despite what your heart tells you; it leads to extremes, prevents complete worship of God, and holds you back from total surrender. It manifests in your conduct and is something you persistently pursue even when God's presence makes you question it.
   • "¿Cómo no le permito a ese ídolo destruirme?" (How do I prevent that idol from destroying me?) The answer is to surrender it to God, referencing Philippians 2:5-8 about Christ's humility as a model. He emphasizes the need to recognize and relinquish the idol.
   • "¿Cómo logro esto? ¿Cómo logro entregar ese ídolo interno?" (How do I achieve this? How do I surrender that inner idol?) The answer is to build self-esteem based solely on one's relationship with God; to find worth not in possessions, actions, or abilities but in God's love and acceptance.

3. What is the significance of the analogy of adoption used in the sermon? The adoption analogy illustrates God's unconditional love. A biological child is accepted as they are, but an adopted child is chosen despite flaws. God's choice of us, despite our imperfections, demonstrates His profound love and acceptance. This acceptance is the true source of our worth.

4. What are some of the examples of internal idols mentioned in the sermon? The sermon mentions several examples of internal idols: strength, self-importance, money, prosperity, position, sensual pleasure, pride, power, political power, beauty, acceptance, ministry, future plans, and even the pursuit of becoming a renowned minister or prophet.

5. Ask anything... (This question is open for the user to ask their own question.)