Daily Surrender: Transforming Hearts Through Faith
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the profound act of surrendering our hearts to God. We began by lifting our voices in worship, acknowledging the burdens we carry and the need to lay them down at the feet of Jesus. As we surrender, we invite God's transformative power into our lives, allowing Him to bring healing, restoration, and peace. This act of surrender is not just a one-time event but a daily commitment to trust and lean on God, recognizing that He desires to encounter us in our everyday lives.
We also prayed for our nation and its leaders, emphasizing the importance of voting according to biblical principles. As Christians, we are called to engage with the world around us, exercising our rights and responsibilities while standing firm on God's Word. This includes discerning the laws and leaders that align with God's heart, even when they may not align with societal norms.
Our series, "Blueprints," has been a deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus outlines the characteristics of the kingdom of God. We are reminded that it's not enough to merely read the Word; we must apply it to our lives. This application is akin to plugging a charger into an outlet—it's what brings power and transformation.
God desires our hearts above all else. We explored the idea that material possessions and wealth are not inherently sinful, but they can become idols if they capture our hearts. Jesus' teachings in Matthew remind us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. We must examine our hearts to ensure that God, not earthly possessions, holds the throne.
Finally, we were challenged to consider whether we have truly surrendered our hearts to God. It's not about outward appearances or religious rituals; it's about a genuine relationship with Jesus. As we surrender, God changes our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions, leading us into a deeper, more authentic walk with Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Surrender and Transformation: Surrendering our burdens to God invites His transformative power into our lives, bringing healing and peace. This act of surrender is a daily commitment to trust and lean on God, allowing Him to work in and through us. [40:47]
- Engagement with the World: As Christians, we are called to engage with the world, exercising our rights and responsibilities while standing firm on God's Word. This includes voting according to biblical principles and discerning leaders who align with God's heart. [47:33]
- Application of the Word: It's not enough to read the Word of God; we must apply it to our lives. This application is what brings power and transformation, akin to plugging a charger into an outlet. [54:14]
- Guarding Our Hearts: God desires our hearts above all else. Material possessions and wealth are not sinful, but they can become idols if they capture our hearts. We must examine our hearts to ensure that God holds the throne. [01:06:11]
- Genuine Relationship with Jesus: True surrender is not about outward appearances or religious rituals; it's about a genuine relationship with Jesus. As we surrender, God changes our hearts, thoughts, and actions, leading us into a deeper walk with Him. [01:18:29]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[38:50] - Worship and Surrender
[40:03] - Laying Down Burdens
[40:47] - Transformation Through Surrender
[41:47] - Prayers for Healing and Restoration
[42:41] - Praying for Our Leaders
[43:24] - Engaging with the World
[44:53] - Standing on God's Word
[47:33] - Importance of Voting
[50:50] - Blueprints Series Overview
[54:14] - Application of the Word
[55:49] - God Desires Our Heart
[56:43] - True Knowledge of Jesus
[58:37] - Earthly Treasures vs. Heavenly Treasures
[01:06:11] - Guarding Our Hearts
[01:08:04] - Serving One Master
[01:18:29] - Genuine Surrender to Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:19-21
2. Matthew 7:21-23
3. 1 Timothy 6:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 6:21 say about the relationship between our treasure and our heart? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on guarding our hearts? [58:37]
2. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus speaks about those who claim to know Him. What criteria does He use to determine who truly knows Him? [56:43]
3. According to 1 Timothy 6:9-10, what are the dangers associated with the desire to be rich? How does this passage connect to the sermon’s discussion on material possessions? [01:10:33]
4. How does the sermon describe the act of surrendering our burdens to God, and what are the expected outcomes of this surrender? [40:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" challenge a person's current priorities or lifestyle? [58:37]
2. What does it mean to have a genuine relationship with Jesus, as opposed to merely performing religious rituals? How does this relate to the passage in Matthew 7:21-23? [56:43]
3. In what ways can the love of money lead to various kinds of evil, as described in 1 Timothy 6:9-10? How does this understanding impact a Christian's view on wealth and possessions? [01:10:33]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of applying God's Word to our lives. How does this application compare to the analogy of plugging a charger into an outlet? [54:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate a practice of surrendering your burdens to God each day? What specific burdens do you need to lay down at His feet this week? [40:47]
2. Consider your engagement with the world, especially in the context of voting and civic responsibilities. How can you ensure that your actions align with biblical principles? [47:33]
3. Examine your heart for any idols or material possessions that may have taken precedence over your relationship with God. What steps can you take to ensure that God holds the throne of your heart? [01:06:11]
4. Think about your current understanding and application of God's Word. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are not just reading the Word but also living it out in your daily life? [54:14]
5. Reflect on your relationship with Jesus. Are there areas where you have been relying on outward appearances or rituals rather than a genuine connection with Him? How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus this week? [01:18:29]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you have not fully surrendered to God. What is one action you can take this week to begin surrendering that area to Him? [01:18:29]
7. Consider the blessings and resources God has entrusted to you. How can you use them to advance His kingdom and bless others, rather than solely for personal gain? [01:11:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Daily Surrender Invites Divine Transformation
Surrendering our burdens to God is a profound act that invites His transformative power into our lives. This is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to trust and lean on God. By laying down our burdens at the feet of Jesus, we open ourselves to His healing, restoration, and peace. This daily surrender allows God to work in and through us, changing our hearts and aligning our lives with His will. As we consistently choose to surrender, we experience a deeper relationship with God and witness His power at work in our lives. [40:47]
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." (Psalm 37:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What burden are you carrying today that you need to surrender to God? How can you make surrender a daily practice in your life?
Day 2: Engaging the World with Biblical Discernment
As Christians, we are called to engage with the world around us, exercising our rights and responsibilities while standing firm on God's Word. This includes voting according to biblical principles and discerning leaders who align with God's heart. Our engagement should be rooted in prayer and a deep understanding of Scripture, allowing us to navigate societal norms with wisdom and integrity. By doing so, we become active participants in God's work in the world, influencing society with His truth and love. [47:33]
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively engage with the world around you while remaining true to biblical principles? What steps can you take to ensure your actions align with God's heart?
Day 3: The Power of Applying God's Word
Reading the Word of God is essential, but it is the application of His Word that brings power and transformation into our lives. Just as a charger needs to be plugged into an outlet to provide power, we must actively apply Scripture to our daily lives to experience its transformative effects. This means allowing God's Word to shape our thoughts, actions, and decisions, leading us to live in a way that reflects His kingdom. By doing so, we become vessels of His love and truth in the world. [54:14]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to apply God's Word more intentionally? How can you take practical steps to live out this application today?
Day 4: Guarding Our Hearts from Idolatry
God desires our hearts above all else, and while material possessions and wealth are not inherently sinful, they can become idols if they capture our hearts. Jesus' teachings remind us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. We must examine our hearts to ensure that God, not earthly possessions, holds the throne. By doing so, we align our desires with His and experience the freedom and fulfillment that comes from a heart fully devoted to Him. [01:06:11]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)
Reflection: What material possession or earthly desire might be capturing your heart? How can you refocus your heart to ensure God remains on the throne?
Day 5: Cultivating a Genuine Relationship with Jesus
True surrender is not about outward appearances or religious rituals; it's about cultivating a genuine relationship with Jesus. As we surrender our hearts to Him, God changes our thoughts, actions, and desires, leading us into a deeper, more authentic walk with Him. This relationship is marked by intimacy, trust, and a willingness to follow wherever He leads. By prioritizing our relationship with Jesus, we experience the fullness of life He offers and become more like Him in our daily lives. [01:18:29]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus today? What specific steps can you take to cultivate intimacy and trust with Him?
Quotes
1) "We exist to get people to a place where they will acknowledge, trust, and lean on God daily. We need God every single day. Every single day. And the amazing thing about our God is that he desires to encounter you and he desires to encounter me. All we gotta do is call, call on him and he shows up. And so no matter what you're facing, no matter the weight, no matter the burden, the answer is Jesus. He's the end all be all. And we can call on his name and he will show up." [47:33] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "When we read the word of God, but don't apply it. It's like plugging your phone in to the charger, but not plugging the charger into an outlet. The application is what makes the power run through so that then your life can be recharged, so your life can be changed. So it's not about just reading it. It's not about just having it. And here's the other part that unfortunately a lot of believers don't do. They don't read the word of God. They have this mindset that the word is only for the pastors or the teachers or certain individuals who are worthy to read it. No, it is for every believer." [54:14] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "God desires our heart. God desires our heart. And we are called to guard our heart, the Scripture says. We're guard to protect it, and God desires our heart. Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 15. I know we're in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 6, 7, but I want us to start in Matthew 15. We're going to read verses 7 through 9. This is Jesus talking, and he says, Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying, These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, and in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of man." [55:49] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Not everyone who says they know Jesus knows Jesus. I'm going to say that again. Not everyone who says they know Jesus knows Jesus. I'm going to take it a step further. Not everyone who quotes a verse that you know Jesus. The Bible teaches us that Satan quoted the scripture at Jesus while he was trying to tempt him. One of the first examples of seeing somebody manipulate scripture to try to get somebody to do something else." [56:43] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Earth is temporary. Heaven is eternal. Earth is temporary. Heaven is eternal. And Jesus here is saying, where are you laying up your treasure? What is that most important, most valuable thing? Because if you and I are solely focused on the things of this earth, the reality is God that does not have our heart. So I want us to think about this for a second. Are material possessions bad or evil? Absolutely not. Is it wrong to purchase a house and pay it off and not have a mortgage on it anymore? Absolutely not. Is it wrong to have a car, a nice car even, a reliable transportation? It's not wrong." [01:00:09] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Material things are not evil. They're not sinful. But if they have your heart, they can be. And say that again. Material things are not sinful, but they can be if our heart is set on them. Let's talk about this reliable car thing for a second. I grew up and we came to Christ when I was eight years old and my mom had a 1979 Buick Regal. It was silver with red interior. I don't even know if it had seatbelts because the seatbelts weren't a thing back in the day. But one thing I remember is that when we came to Christ, we would go to church every day almost, and we lived by Dade County Auditorium, which is on Flagler and like 37th, give or take." [01:01:15] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "If our heart is on earthly things, then God doesn't have it. Possessions are not bad. But where's our heart? Where's our heart? What are we doing with the things that God has entrusted into us? If he's entrusted into you a home or a car or finances, what are we using it for? Solely to build ourselves? Or are we using it to advance? Are we solely using it so that I can feel better and I can have... Because here's what happens. When we put our trust on those things, we stop relying on God." [01:02:40] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "We cannot be loyal to the world and its possessions and to God at the same time. And when you are divided in your loyalty, when you're loyal really to self, you're definitely not being loyal to God. And so where does our loyalty lie? Where does our heart lie? And in the same way that I asked a minute ago, having possessions wrong, I would ask this, is having riches or money sinful? Absolutely not. Is it wrong to have wealth? No, it's not. Is it wrong to have a good retirement plan and a good 401k or whatever? Are those things wrong? Absolutely not." [01:08:04] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "Money is not the root of all kinds of evil. The love of money. Money is the root of all kinds of evil. So is having wealth sinful? No. Money's not evil, but the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. That's what the Bible says. So we check our heart. Is it wrong to save? No. But if God has allowed for us to be blessed in our finances, what are we using it for or doing with it? Because you know that the blessing that comes to us through the blessing that God spoke to Abraham back in... Genesis chapter 14 and 15 was, I will bless you to be a blessing." [01:10:33] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10) "If our heart is God's and he can trust us, he will then bless us because he trusts us to use it for his honor and glory. It's not evil to have it, but why are we having it? Why do we desire it? Some people desire a larger platform. Oh, I want to be famous. And when I'm famous, I'm going to do this for God. Bro, if you ain't doing it now that nobody knows you, you ain't going to do it when you're famous. If you're not standing for God now, you're not going to do it when the pressures are real. We stand for God now." [01:11:30] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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