Embracing Christ's Lordship: A Call to Surrender

Devotional

Day 1: Reverence in Worship

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to approach worship with a casual attitude, forgetting the sacredness of being in God's presence. True worship requires us to pause and recognize the awe-inspiring nature of God, who is worthy of our deepest reverence. This reverence transforms our worship into a profound encounter with the divine, where we honor God with our whole being. As we gather to worship, let us remember that we are stepping into a holy space, inviting the transformative power of God's presence into our lives. [01:24]

"Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally cultivate a sense of reverence in your worship this week, both personally and corporately?

Day 2: Understanding Lordship

The concept of Jesus as Lord is foundational to our faith, yet it challenges us to align our actions with our declarations. To call Jesus "Lord" is to acknowledge His mastery and ownership over our lives, committing to a path of obedience. This understanding requires us to examine whether our lives truly reflect His authority, ensuring that our words are not empty but are backed by genuine submission to His will. As we reflect on His lordship, let us strive to live in a way that honors His rightful place as the ruler of our hearts. [07:35]

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to submit to Jesus' lordship, and how can you begin to align your actions with your declarations of faith?

Day 3: The Cost of Discipleship

Following Jesus is not a path of convenience but one of self-denial and daily surrender. True discipleship requires us to take up our cross, setting aside our desires and ambitions to follow His will. This journey is not optional for those who wish to be part of His kingdom; it demands genuine commitment and a willingness to lose our lives for His sake. As we consider the cost of discipleship, let us embrace the call to deny ourselves, trusting that the path of surrender leads to true life in Christ. [11:33]

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific desire or ambition you need to surrender to follow Jesus more closely, and what steps can you take to do so today?

Day 4: Grace and Kingdom Living

The grace we receive from God is not a license to live as we please but an invitation to enter His kingdom under His rule. This grace calls us to embrace His lordship, recognizing that His plans and purposes are greater than our own. Living under His rule means aligning our lives with His kingdom values, allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out. As we reflect on the gift of grace, let us commit to living in a way that honors His reign, trusting in His wisdom and love. [21:30]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow God's grace to shape your daily decisions and actions, ensuring that you live under His kingdom rule?

Day 5: Continual Surrender

The Christian life is a journey of ongoing surrender and obedience, where we daily choose to submit to Christ's lordship. This process of sanctification requires us to evaluate our lives, ensuring that every aspect is aligned with His will. As we worship, we invite the Holy Spirit to reveal areas that are not fully surrendered, committing anew to live under the reign of our loving and powerful King. Let us embrace this journey of continual surrender, trusting that God is at work in us, shaping us into the image of Christ. [33:01]

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life that you need to surrender to God today, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process?

Sermon Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound and often challenging concept of Jesus as Lord. This is not merely a title but a call to a life of obedience and surrender. We began by reflecting on the awe and reverence we should have in the presence of God, contrasting it with the often casual approach we take in our worship and daily lives. The passage from Hebrews reminds us that Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses, encouraging us to bring our struggles to Him, knowing He understands and supports us.

We delved into the multifaceted nature of God, recognizing Him as Creator, Father, and Bridegroom, but today, we focused on His lordship. The term "Lord" signifies ownership and mastery, a concept that is foundational to our faith. Jesus Himself questioned why we call Him "Lord" if we do not do what He commands, highlighting the disconnect between our words and actions.

The sermon challenged the notion that accepting Jesus as Savior is separate from accepting Him as Lord. This misconception has led many to believe that following Jesus is optional, a dangerous fallacy that contradicts the teachings of Christ. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him, a path that requires self-denial and submission to His will.

We examined the cost of discipleship, understanding that true followers of Christ are those who are willing to lose their lives for His sake. This means surrendering our desires, dreams, and control, trusting that His plans are greater than ours. The grace we receive is not a license to live as we please but an invitation to enter His kingdom under His rule.

Finally, we were reminded that the Christian life is one of continual surrender and obedience. It is a journey of sanctification, where we daily choose to submit to His lordship, allowing Him to guide our decisions and actions. As we worship, we invite the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of our lives that are not fully surrendered, committing anew to live under the reign of our loving and powerful King.

Key Takeaways

1. denial and daily surrender, as we take up our cross and submit to His will. This path is not optional but essential for those who wish to be part of His kingdom, emphasizing the need for genuine commitment. [11:33]
4. Grace and Kingdom Living: The grace we receive is an invitation to enter God's kingdom under His rule, not a license to live as we please. This understanding calls us to embrace His lordship, recognizing that His plans and purposes are greater than our own.

5. Continual Surrender: The Christian life is a journey of ongoing surrender and obedience, where we daily choose to submit to Christ's lordship. This process of sanctification requires us to evaluate our lives, ensuring that every aspect is aligned with His will.

** [11:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Opening Prayer
[01:24] - Reverence in Worship
[03:30] - Claiming God's Promises
[05:31] - Understanding God as Creator, Father, and Bridegroom
[06:37] - The Meaning of Lordship
[08:43] - Obedience as Foundation
[10:56] - The Cost of Discipleship
[14:19] - Denying Self and Following Christ
[18:35] - Jesus' Call to Follow
[21:30] - Grace and Kingdom Living
[24:59] - The Warning of False Assurance
[30:16] - True Repentance and Salvation
[33:01] - Continual Surrender and Obedience
[41:54] - Worship and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Hebrews 4:15 tell us about Jesus' ability to understand our struggles? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on bringing our struggles to Him? [01:38]
In Luke 6:46-49, what analogy does Jesus use to describe those who hear His words and put them into practice versus those who do not? [08:10]
According to Luke 9:23-24, what are the requirements Jesus sets for those who wish to follow Him? How does this align with the sermon’s message on self-denial and daily surrender? [11:33]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of Jesus sympathizing with our weaknesses in Hebrews 4:15 encourage believers to approach Him with their struggles? [02:55]
What does the analogy of building a house on a rock versus on the ground in Luke 6:46-49 suggest about the importance of obedience in the Christian faith? [08:25]
In Luke 9:23-24, what does it mean to "deny oneself" and "take up one's cross daily"? How does this reflect the sermon’s call to genuine commitment and discipleship? [12:15]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current approach to worship. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe in your spiritual practices? [01:24]
Consider areas of your life where you may be calling Jesus "Lord" but not fully obeying His commands. What steps can you take to align your actions with your declarations? [07:35]
The sermon emphasized the cost of discipleship. What is one area of your life where you need to practice self-denial and surrender to Jesus' will? [11:33]
How do you understand the grace you have received in relation to living under God's rule? Are there areas where you might be misusing grace as a license to live as you please? [21:30]
Identify a specific decision or area in your life where you need to practice continual surrender to Christ's lordship. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process? [33:01]
Reflect on a time when you felt challenged to follow Jesus' teachings despite personal desires. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [14:19]
How can you practically deny yourself and take up your cross daily in your current life circumstances? What support or accountability might you need from your small group to do this? [12:47]

Sermon Clips

"Come into the presence of God with everyone and to join the angels in heaven with reverence and awe and just present the sacrifice to the Lord. I was praying because I was thinking about that passage in Hebrews 4 where it says that he's like he can sympathize with our weaknesses." [00:01:19]

"Why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I tell you? Okay so right there what does that tell you about the word Lord? Yeah that if someone is Lord he expects you to do what he tells you to do. That's what a lord does that's what a master does." [00:07:23]

"Following Jesus is optional. We can accept him as Savior but not as Lord. So, and people were believing this they were going okay well I don't know if I really want to be a disciple I just don't want to go to hell so I'm going to believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and he is my savior now but lordship is a choice that comes after salvation that you can give or take." [00:09:36]

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. So this is what he's saying to everyone, okay he says if you want to follow me there's requirements. He says, I want you to deny yourself, let him deny himself." [00:11:18]

"Whoever would save his life will lose it. Okay I get it, we like to be in control. God may ask you to do things that you really do not want to do, and there are certain things in your life where you're going okay God, anything except for this I want to hold on to this one area of my life." [00:14:33]

"Remember we're believing in a God who sent his only begotten son. We believe in a God who was friends with Abraham because Abraham was going to sacrifice his only son, the promise and I should say the chosen one, his most valued, most loved person on the earth he's I'm gonna let go by faith." [00:16:36]

"Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words of him will the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory in the glory of the father and of the Holy Angels. Later on in the same chapter in verse 57 he says this, this is happening because as they were going along the road someone said to him I'll follow you wherever you go." [00:18:24]

"That's really not an option here, he goes when we get baptized we lose everything, we lose our families we lose our jobs we lose our status, why would you casually do that, you know we understand there's a cost to this, it was just this powerful thought of they understood surrender because they were forced into it." [00:37:14]

"There's part of us that just has to evaluate Our Lives and go God are you really Lord Of My Life. It's interesting it was just reminded it was during that trip to India because we at that point Lisa was pregnant with our fifth kid and we had left everything sold our home and go okay, we'll just stop and live wherever God tells us to stop and live." [00:38:04]

"Let me not ever forget that you are Lord and let me pick up my cross daily and follow you, and the Christian Life is a life of self-denial and dying to ourselves, that's the decision we made when we got baptized and joined ourselves with Jesus, we were saying anything." [00:40:05]

"As they made their vows to one another I was just thinking gosh you make these Grand vows to each other at that moment but then it's a lifetime of working that out and go oh yes that's right I promise For Better or For Worse okay richer and poorer we are really poor right now." [00:40:32]

"Let's spend some time worshiping him as king and as we worship Him, maybe the Lord will bring to mind just areas of your life that maybe aren't under his lordship that you're still trying to save from him and protect from him that Holy Spirit would you just reveal to us." [00:41:49]

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