Absolute Surrender: Embracing Christ in Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: The Call to Absolute Surrender

In the Christian journey, absolute surrender to Jesus Christ is a profound call that requires letting go of self-centered ambitions and desires. This surrender is not merely a verbal commitment but a transformative reality where Christ increases in our lives, and we decrease, following the example of John the Baptist. He found greatness in his nothingness, focusing entirely on pointing others to Christ. This call to surrender is about allowing Christ to be the treasure within us, shining through our lives. It is a journey of letting go of our self-life so that the light of Christ can be revealed to the world. [02:21]

John 3:30-31 (ESV): "He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Treasure in Earthen Vessels

We are like simple jars of clay, yet within us resides the incredible treasure of Jesus Christ. Our lives should be the evidence of His resurrection, more so than the empty tomb. The world is not interested in the vessel itself but in the treasure it holds. For the light of Christ to shine through us, the self-life must be broken. This breaking is not about losing our personality but about surrendering our self-centeredness. It is about allowing God to use us as we are, with our unique personalities, for His glory. [08:50]

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."

Reflection: How can you allow the treasure of Christ within you to shine more brightly in your interactions with others today?

Day 3: The Necessity of Brokenness

For the light of Christ to shine through us, the self-life must be broken. This process of breaking is not about losing our personality but about surrendering our self-centeredness. It is a painful process, but it is necessary for the life of Christ to be manifest in us. We are called to be willing to face troubles, perplexities, persecutions, and even death, if it means that the life of Jesus will be made manifest in us. This willingness is a testament to our commitment to Christ and our desire to glorify Him. [19:49]

Psalm 51:17 (ESV): "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to embrace brokenness for His glory? How can you begin to respond to this call today?

Day 4: Willingness to Face Trials

We are called to be willing to face troubles, perplexities, persecutions, and even death, if it means that the life of Jesus will be made manifest in us. This willingness is a testament to our commitment to Christ and our desire to glorify Him. The Christian journey is not without its challenges, but it is through these trials that the light of Christ shines most brightly. Our willingness to face these trials is a reflection of our faith and trust in God's plan for our lives. [31:21]

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

Reflection: What is one trial you are currently facing, and how can you invite Jesus to be made manifest in you through this experience?

Day 5: The Call of a Disciple

The invitation is to step into the offering plate, to give ourselves wholly to God, to say, "All of Jesus, no more of me." This is the call of a disciple, to forsake all and surrender to the One who gave His all for us. In doing so, we will find true joy and life, for God has designed us in such a way that the more we seek to glorify Him, the more joy we will experience. This call to discipleship is a journey of transformation, where we find our true identity and purpose in Christ. [36:25]

Luke 14:33 (ESV): "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

Reflection: What is one thing you need to renounce or let go of to fully embrace your call as a disciple of Jesus? How can you take a step towards this today?

Sermon Summary

In this gathering, we are reminded of the profound call to live a life of absolute surrender to Jesus Christ. The message is clear: "All of Jesus, no more of me." This is not just a catchy phrase but a deep spiritual truth that calls us to a life where Christ increases and we decrease. John the Baptist exemplified this when he declared, "He must increase, but I must decrease." His greatness was found in his nothingness, in his complete focus on pointing others to Christ. This is the essence of our Christian journey—to let Christ be the treasure within us, shining through our lives.

We are like earthen vessels, simple jars of clay, yet within us resides the incredible treasure of Jesus Christ. This treasure is not meant to be hidden but to be revealed through our lives. The world is not interested in the vessel itself but in the treasure it holds. Our lives should be the indisputable evidence that Jesus is alive, more so than the empty tomb. The light of Christ within us is what the world needs to see, and for that light to shine, the self-life must be broken.

This breaking is not about losing our personality but about surrendering our self-centeredness. It is about allowing God to use us as we are, with our unique personalities, for His glory. The self-life must die for the life of Christ to be manifest in us. This process can be painful, but it is necessary for the light of Christ to shine through us. We are called to be willing to face troubles, perplexities, persecutions, and even death, if it means that the life of Jesus will be made manifest in us.

The invitation is clear: Are we willing to step into the offering plate, to give ourselves wholly to God, to say, "All of Jesus, no more of me"? This is the call of a disciple, to forsake all and surrender to the One who gave His all for us. In doing so, we will find true joy and life, for God has designed us in such a way that the more we seek to glorify Him, the more joy we will experience.

Key Takeaways

1. Absolute Surrender: The call to absolute surrender is a call to let go of our self-centered ambitions and desires. It is about allowing Christ to increase in our lives while we decrease, just as John the Baptist exemplified. This surrender is not just in words but in reality, leading to a life that truly glorifies God. [02:21]
2. Treasure in Earthen Vessels: We are simple jars of clay, yet within us resides the treasure of Jesus Christ. Our lives should be the evidence of His resurrection, more so than the empty tomb. The world needs to see the light of Christ in us, and for that to happen, the self-life must be broken. [08:50]
3. The Necessity of Brokenness: For the light of Christ to shine through us, the self-life must be broken. This breaking is not about losing our personality but about surrendering our self-centeredness. It is a painful process, but it is necessary for the life of Christ to be manifest in us. [19:49]
4. Willingness to Face Trials: We are called to be willing to face troubles, perplexities, persecutions, and even death, if it means that the life of Jesus will be made manifest in us. This willingness is a testament to our commitment to Christ and our desire to glorify Him. [31:21]
5. The Call of a Disciple: The invitation is to step into the offering plate, to give ourselves wholly to God, to say, "All of Jesus, no more of me." This is the call of a disciple, to forsake all and surrender to the One who gave His all for us. In doing so, we will find true joy and life. [36:25]
** [36:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Prophetic Message
[00:44] - Clarion Call
[01:30] - Preparing Hearts
[03:02] - All of Jesus, None of Me
[05:02] - John the Baptist's Example
[07:34] - Treasure in Earthen Vessels
[09:24] - Christ in Us
[11:01] - Spirit of Christ Dwelling
[13:20] - Power of God in Us
[15:34] - Focus on the Treasure
[19:15] - Light of the World
[24:11] - Dying to Self
[29:56] - Willingness to Be Broken
[36:25] - Call to Discipleship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."
2 Corinthians 4:7 - "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
Romans 8:9-11 - Discusses the Spirit of God dwelling in believers.

Observation Questions:

What does John the Baptist mean when he says, "He must increase, but I must decrease"? How does this reflect his life and ministry? [05:44]
In 2 Corinthians 4:7, what is the "treasure" that Paul refers to, and why is it significant that it is housed in "earthen vessels"? [08:50]
According to Romans 8:9-11, what is the significance of having the Spirit of Christ dwell within us? How does this relate to the concept of living a life of surrender? [11:01]
How does the sermon describe the process of "breaking" the self-life, and why is it necessary for the light of Christ to shine through us? [19:49]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the call to "absolute surrender" challenge common perceptions of personal ambition and self-fulfillment in today's culture? [02:21]
What does it mean for our lives to be the "indisputable evidence" that Jesus is alive, as opposed to relying on historical or physical evidence like the empty tomb? [14:09]
How can the concept of being "earthen vessels" help us understand our role in God's plan and the importance of humility in our Christian walk? [08:50]
What are the implications of being willing to face trials, perplexities, and persecutions for the sake of manifesting the life of Jesus in us? [31:21]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you prioritized your own ambitions over God's call to surrender. How can you realign your priorities to reflect "All of Jesus, no more of me"? [02:21]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle to let Christ's light shine through. What steps can you take to "break" the self-life in this area? [19:49]
How can you practically demonstrate the treasure of Christ within you to those around you this week? Consider specific actions or words that could reveal Christ's presence in your life. [14:09]
Are there specific trials or challenges you are currently facing that could be opportunities for Christ's life to be manifest in you? How can you embrace these challenges with faith? [31:21]
Think of a personal plan or ambition you hold dear. Are you willing to lay it at the altar and say, "Lord, you are my plan"? What would that look like in your life? [34:47]
Consider someone in your life who needs to see the light of Christ. How can you be a vessel for that light in your interactions with them this week? [29:01]
Reflect on the story of the little African girl who stepped into the offering plate. What does it mean for you to give yourself wholly to God, and how can you take a step towards that this week? [36:25]

Sermon Clips

"All my life there was a truth I longed to see some day you said I'd be free all my trying led to failure that's when I heard him whisper all of Jesus none of me o the glorious liberation maybe I should have sang it he goes on to say the key to our salvation is all of Jesus none of me all of Jesus none of me it's not only the key to our salvation is the key the key to bring to God getting the most glory out of your life and did you realize that is why we created our greatest purpose in this life is to bring glory to our great God he is great and he is greatly to be praised it is the key to the abundant life in Christ it is the key to the victorious life in Christ it is the key to everything in the Christian life all of Jesus none of me." [00:03:12]

"John the Baptist says he must increase but I must decrease Christ must increase but I must decrease the man who proclaimed those words not only proclaimed them but he lived them it was a reality in his life and you remember this is the man that Jesus himself said of John the Baptist assuredly I say to you among those born of women there is not risen one greater than John the Baptist it's one thing for man to testify about man it's a whole other thing for God to testify about man it's a whole other thing for God to point out a man that's something and Jesus said of this man under the Old Covenant there's never one born greater among women what was the key to his greatness the key to his greatness was his nothingness the key to his greatness was that he didn't want greatness." [00:05:02]

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us we have this treasure in earthen vessels he's referring to us we are the earthen vessels just jars of clay that's that's that that's what we are we were all made from the ground God made Adam out of the dust of the ground we are the earthen vessels but he's saying we have this treasure as believers as children of the Living God blood-bought born-again believers we have this incredible treasure inside these earthen vessels what is that treasure who is that treasure that treasure is the Lord Jesus Christ himself." [00:07:34]

"The Spirit of the Living God lives in me if I didn't believe that and I didn't know that you would have never got me to Australia to preach anyway to scare me to death if I thought I would have to stand up here and deliver a message on my own you're looking at someone who in high school couldn't even give an oral book report I was scared to death to speak and besides that I didn't know how and I stuttered and stammered but I'm serious I'm not trying to be humble even coming to Australia this fear comes to me the moment I look at myself I get terrified but the moment I look at Jesus and he reminds me it's not about you it's my power and your dependence my will and your obedience it's Christ in you the hope of glory." [00:11:01]

"Instead of being so taken up with the treasure the person of the Lord Jesus Christ the Spirit of the Living God who lives in us instead of being focused upon him and taking up with him we get so focused on the earthen vessel the outward man the self life and we think about ourselves and we're so concerned about what others think about ourselves well it's all self self focused self thinking self effort let me ask you a question we had a wonderful meal a while ago and I heard many say oh this is so good in this food good and we were taken up with the food was anyone in this room taken up with the plate that the food was upon anybody how about the cups oh look at this Cup focus on this Cup no I want the cold water in the cup that's what I'm interested in give me a drink who cares about the cup who cares about the plate you may be a plate I may be a cup you may be a bowl so what what about the treasure he is where our focus is to be Christ." [00:15:34]

"The lost world's not waiting to taste the plate they're waiting to taste and see that the Lord is good they want the meal they want the food that's on the plate they want the cold clean water that's in the cup that's what they need to see and I tell you this a lost world has seen enough of the earthen vessel they've seen enough of this outward man and quite frankly it's it's disgusting and it's all through the church where everything is centered on man Oh have you come to hear so-and-so preach oh look isn't he a great man oh did you hear sewing so sick and it's all man centered what about the the church that you come into and I believe this is one of them and you leave not with thoughts consumed about the man but thoughts consumed about the Christ that lived in the man had lived in the woman and was exalted in the house." [00:19:15]

"Christ is the light of the world the light of the world lives in you now Christians but something has to happen in order for them to see that light the self life has to be broken the earthen vessel has to be dropped it has to be forsaken it has to be crushed it has to be broken and this can be painful we need brokenness without brokenness they'll never see the light they see the light of Christ as the self life dies and as that clay jar is shattered now that doesn't mean that God does away with our personality you know there's an outward man in an inner man there's still a new inner man that the Lord leaves there you know sometimes we have this false humility he said don't look at me don't look at me and if I really believe that I'd put a big curtain up here and I'd preached you behind this curtain don't look at me just look at Jesus he's not talking about that that kind of false humility he's talking about placing no confidence in the flesh or the self but at the same time God getting glory by using the personality and the person he's made you to be in him." [00:24:11]

"Except a kernel of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it brings forth much fruit you see you put one grain of wheat on the Shelf you come back next year and how many grains of wheat do you have still one you come back ten years later and what do you still have it's still the old selfish grain of wheat not doing anything not producing anything but if that grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies and breaks the ouch the outer shell has to break the self-life has to break open the earthen vessel has to break open what happens life comes forth you have a plant with many grains of wheat and they in turn produce many more grains of wheat and it's the same in us brothers and sisters if you seek to save your life you will lose it but if you if you give your life completely to Jesus you'll really find it you will no fruit you will see the glory of God in the light of Christ shining through you like never before and God doing the impossible through you every single one of you is willing to be broken and willing to die." [00:29:56]

"We are troubled on every side yet not distressed why did God allow the Apostle Paul to be troubled on every side so that the clay jar could be broken and the power of God could shine forth the light of Christ could shines forth so here's my question for you the invitation is going to be very clear tonight I'm going to invite those tonight to come to Christ who mean who are serious about absolute surrender and and serious about being broken so that Christ will get glory out of your life and Christ will shine that others will see this treasure but here's the first step answer this not out loud but but to yourself before God are you willing to be troubled on every side but knowing you won't be distressed we are perplexed but not in despair are you willing to be perplexed and not understand everything about God's plan are you willing to be perplexed if it's for the glory of God if it's for the sake of this earthen vessel being broken so that his life can shine forth are you willing to be perplexed but knowing he won't leave you in despair we are persecuted but not forsaken brothers and sisters are you willing to be persecuted for the cause of Christ for the sake of the gospel some of you know what that means some of us don't are you willing to be persecuted so that this clay jar will be broken and the life of Jesus will shine forth we are cast down but we're not destroyed what if it means you're giving all to Jesus and then suddenly being cast down yet having this promise I won't be destroyed always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus are you willing to die that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body for we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake are you willing always to be deliverer done to death like the song said live or die I am yours Jesus whatever will bring you the most glory whatever will cause the light of Christ of You Lord Jesus this treasure to be seen the brightest in me are you willing to be delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh for some it means physical death it did Stephen that precious brother Stephen who was stoned to death and but while he was being stoned to death there was a man watching named saul of tarsus and in the beginning all saul of tarsus saw was an earthen vessel but after Stephen was stoned to death the earthen vessel was shattered and the life the treasure of Christ shone brightly through this man and Saul of Tarsus must have been gripped in his heart he comes to Christ and becomes the Apostle Paul this is serious am I willing to be delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh so then death worketh in us he says but life in you are you willing to be broken that Christ and his life would shine through are you willing to accept what I just read from his word persecution being perplexed being cast down dying to your rights dying to the right to defend yourself taking all your personal ambitions and plans you have plans you said my life is all planned out are you willing to take those plans today tonight and bring them to this altar and say Lord I lay those at your feet you are my plan are you willing to give him your whole heart are you willing to surrender spirit soul and body to a great great God that he may get glory out of your life." [00:31:21]

"I love the story of the little African girl in the tenth meeting who loved Jesus with all of her heart and they had an offering and they begin to pass an offering plate and she was so disturbed because she didn't have two pennies to rub together and she wanted so badly to give Jesus something because he loved her so much she loved him so much in return and she felt she had nothing to give him and as the offering plate was passed down the aisle closer and closer to her her little heart beating so fast what can I give my Lord what can I give my lord and when the offering plate came to her you know what she did she put it on the ground and she stepped inside of it she said I don't have money Lord Jesus but I give you myself that's just not just a nice story that's the call of a disciple are you willing to step into the offering plate as it is and say Lord not not a not a might when I withhold I'm not just singing I surrender all I mean it I'm giving you my life it's no longer mine but dying can I tell you something you will enter into life and joy like you've never known God has created us in such a way as that the more you seek happiness for yourself the less you will have it but the more you seek to glorify God joy will flood your soul he is worth it all are you willing are you willing to forsake all and to surrender to the one who gave his all for you on that cross if you are as we have prayer and music I want you to know what you're doing I don't does it clear brothers and sisters what's being proclaimed is the invitation clear as the appeal clear enough if you come to this altar tonight you are saying all of Jesus no more of me I'm coming to a place of absolute surrender Lord lord I give you all tonight if you mean that I would invite you to make that decision tonight you will never be the same again." [00:36:25]

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