Out of This World: Five Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "Out of This World" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: Watching the Heavens, Not Just Headlines

Based on the Message: "Out of This World" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. "- Colossians 3:2

Devotional: In our 24/7 news cycle, it's easy to become consumed by the constant stream of breaking news, social media updates, and cultural commentary. We refresh our feeds, check notifications, and feel overwhelmed by the weight of world events. But as believers, we're called to a different perspective. While staying informed isn't wrong, our primary focus should be on eternal realities rather than temporary circumstances.

Think of it like this: imagine you're trying to have a meaningful conversation with a friend in a crowded, noisy restaurant. The more you focus on all the surrounding chatter, the harder it becomes to hear what really matters. Similarly, when we're constantly tuned into the noise of this world, we can miss God's voice speaking into our lives. This doesn't mean we ignore what's happening around us, but rather that we filter everything through God's perspective. When we prioritize heavenly wisdom over earthly headlines, we gain clarity about what truly deserves our attention and energy. We begin to see current events through the lens of eternity, which brings both peace and purpose to our daily lives.

God wants to speak to you today, but it requires intentionally turning down the volume on worldly voices and turning up your spiritual hearing. Your relationship with Him is more important than any trending topic or breaking news story.

Quote: "You can't just watch the headlines; you've got to watch the heavens." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What voices are you allowing to speak loudest in your life right now - the headlines of this world or the eternal truths of heaven?

Prayer: Lord, help me to prioritize Your voice above all the noise of this world. Give me wisdom to stay informed without becoming overwhelmed and help me to see current events through Your eternal perspective. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2: Your Theological Telescope

Based on the Message: "Out of This World" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth."- 1 John 1:6

Devotional: Have you ever looked through a telescope on a clear night? Suddenly, distant stars that were barely visible become bright and detailed. Mountains on the moon come into focus. What seemed far away becomes remarkably close and clear. This is exactly what a biblical worldview does for our spiritual lives - it functions as a theological telescope. Just as a telescope gathers light to make distant objects appear closer, your biblical worldview gathers spiritual truth to make eternal realities clearer than temporary circumstances.

When you look at your current struggles, relationships, or uncertainties through the lens of Scripture, everything comes into proper focus. The challenge is that we live in a world that constantly tries to hand us different lenses - political ideologies, cultural trends, personal opinions, or emotional reactions. These might seem appealing, but they distort our vision rather than clarify it. They make temporary things appear more important than they actually are while making eternal things seem distant and irrelevant.

Building a biblical worldview isn't about having all the answers immediately. It's about consistently choosing to see life through God's perspective as revealed in His Word. When you face decisions, conflicts, or confusion, your first question should be: 'What does God's Word say about this?' This practice trains your spiritual eyes to see clearly in a world full of distortion.

Quote: "Your theological telescope is your biblical worldview."- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what areas of your life are you using worldly lenses instead of your 'theological telescope' to make sense of your circumstances?

Prayer: Father, help me to develop a biblical worldview that sees clearly through Your truth. Train my spiritual eyes to focus on eternal realities rather than temporary distractions. Make Your Word my primary lens for understanding life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 3: Spirit-Led, Not Flesh-Fed

Based on the Message: "Out of This World" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever." - John 14:16

Devotional: We've all been there - that moment when someone says something that triggers us, and before we know it, we've responded in a way that doesn't reflect Christ. Maybe it was a heated political discussion, a family disagreement, or a social media comment that set us off. In those moments, we're operating from our flesh rather than being led by the Spirit.

The difference between flesh-led and Spirit-led responses is profound. When we're filled with our flesh - our emotions, pride, or personal agendas - we tend to react impulsively. We say things we later regret, make decisions based on feelings rather than truth, and often damage relationships in the process. But when we're Spirit-led, we respond with wisdom, grace, and truth.

Being Spirit-led doesn't mean being passive or avoiding difficult conversations. Jesus himself had plenty of challenging interactions, but He always responded from a place of love and truth rather than personal offense or emotional reaction. He could speak hard truths because His motivation was always redemptive, not destructive.

The key is learning to pause before responding. In that pause, we can ask: 'Is this response coming from my flesh or from the Spirit?' 'Will this response reflect Christ's character?' 'Am I speaking truth in love, or am I just venting my frustration?' This simple practice can transform not only our conversations but our entire approach to life's challenges.

Quote: "Be wary of fighting personalities instead of fighting principalities." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Can you think of a recent situation where you responded from your flesh rather than being Spirit-led, and how might you handle it differently next time?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to pause and seek Your guidance before I speak or act. Fill me with Your wisdom and love so that my responses reflect Christ's character rather than my own emotions or pride. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 4: Testing Every Spirit

Based on the Message: "Out of This World" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1

Devotional: In our digital age, we're exposed to more voices, opinions, and influences than any generation in history. Podcasts, social media, news outlets, influencers, and even AI-generated content compete for our attention and allegiance. Each piece of content we consume carries a spirit behind it, and as believers, we're called to test these spirits against God's Word. This isn't about becoming paranoid or isolating ourselves from the world. Rather, it's about developing spiritual discernment - the ability to recognize what aligns with God's truth and what doesn't.

Just as we wouldn't eat food without checking if it's safe, we shouldn't consume spiritual or intellectual content without testing its source and message.

The challenge is that deception often comes disguised as truth. False prophets don't always look obviously evil - they might be charismatic, popular, or even use biblical language. But their ultimate message leads people away from Christ rather than toward Him. They might promote self-reliance over dependence on God, temporary solutions over eternal hope, or cultural acceptance over biblical truth.

As believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have a supernatural advantage in this battle for truth. The Spirit within us can discern what our natural minds might miss. But this discernment must be cultivated through regular time in God's Word, prayer, and fellowship with other mature believers. Don't let the noise of this world drown out your ability to hear God's voice clearly.

Quote: "For the believer, discernment is not just a natural, rational process; we rely upon Holy Spirit for proper discernment." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw

Question: What voices or influences in your life need to be tested more carefully against Scripture, and how can you develop better spiritual discernment?

Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom to discern truth from deception in all the voices competing for my attention. Help me to test everything against Your Word and to rely on Your Spirit for guidance. Protect me from false teaching and lead me into all truth. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 5: Citizens of Heaven

Based on the Message: "Out of This World" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."- Philippians 3:20

Devotional: Have you ever felt like you don't quite fit in this world? Like you see things differently than those around you? That's actually a good sign if you're a follower of Christ. As believers, we are citizens of heaven temporarily residing on earth, and this dual citizenship should affect how we view everything around us.

When you're a citizen of one country living in another, you maintain loyalty to your home nation while respecting the laws of where you currently reside. Similarly, as heavenly citizens, we engage with earthly systems and cultures while maintaining our ultimate allegiance to God's kingdom. This perspective changes everything - from how we respond to political events to how we handle personal conflicts.

The world's system operates on principles that are often contrary to God's kingdom: power over service, revenge over forgiveness, greed over generosity, and temporary pleasure over eternal joy. When we try to find our identity and security in worldly systems, we'll always feel unsettled because we're looking for home in a place that was never meant to be our permanent residence.

This doesn't mean we become disconnected or irrelevant to the world around us. Instead, it means we bring heaven's perspective to earth's problems. We offer hope in despair, love in hatred, and truth in confusion. We're supposed to feel a little different because we are different - we carry the light of Christ in a dark world.

Quote: "This world system doesn't love you. The streets don't love you. The culture don't love you. This is not your home; you're supposed to feel a little weird in this world."- Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what ways are you living more like a citizen of this world than a citizen of heaven, and how can you better reflect your true identity?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me daily that this world is not my home and that my true citizenship is in heaven. Help me to live with eternal perspective while still being a positive influence in the world around me. May Your kingdom come through my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.