Embracing Full Surrender: A Life Devoted to God
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound message from Malachi 3:6-8, focusing on the theme of full surrender to God. The scripture challenges us with the question, "Will a man rob God?" and highlights the importance of giving our all to Him, not just in terms of tithes and offerings, but in every aspect of our lives. This passage serves as a reminder that our lives, our resources, and our very being belong to God. We are called to live in full surrender, recognizing that God has created us, redeemed us, and desires a complete commitment from us.
The essence of our discussion was not merely about financial giving but about the spiritual act of surrendering our entire lives to God. We delved into the idea that withholding from God what is rightfully His is a form of spiritual robbery. This includes not only our material possessions but also our time, talents, and our very selves. The call to full surrender is a call to live a life that is wholly dedicated to God, acknowledging that He has bought us at a great price through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
We also reflected on the importance of being active participants in God's work, whether through ministry, outreach, or simply living a life that reflects His love and grace. The challenge is to move beyond a part-time commitment to God and embrace a life of full devotion, understanding that our obedience and willingness to serve are offerings to God.
As we continue our journey of faith, let us strive to give God our all, recognizing that He deserves nothing less than our complete devotion. Let us be mindful of the ways we can contribute to His work and be open to His calling in our lives, whether it be through teaching, leading, or simply being a light in our communities.
Key Takeaways:
- Full Surrender to God: The call to full surrender is about giving our entire lives to God, not just our finances. It is a spiritual act of obedience, recognizing that everything we have and are belongs to Him. This includes our time, talents, and resources. [35:19]
- Spiritual Robbery: Withholding from God what is rightfully His is a form of spiritual robbery. This includes not only our tithes and offerings but also our very selves. We are called to live a life of full devotion, acknowledging that God has redeemed us at a great price. [34:38]
- Active Participation in God's Work: We are encouraged to be active participants in God's work, whether through ministry, outreach, or simply living a life that reflects His love and grace. Our obedience and willingness to serve are offerings to God. [53:11]
- The Importance of Community and Support: Building a strong church community requires the active involvement of its members. We are called to support one another, contribute to the church's needs, and be a part of its growth and outreach efforts. [25:22]
- God's Unfailing Love and Redemption: God's love and redemption are central to our faith. He has created us, redeemed us, and desires a complete commitment from us. Our response to His love should be a life of full surrender and devotion. [41:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [25:22] - Becoming Part of the Church Family
- [27:47] - Introducing New Worship Music
- [28:47] - Reading from Malachi 3
- [29:15] - The Question of Robbing God
- [30:02] - Importance of Taking Notes
- [31:01] - Understanding Tithes and Offerings
- [32:32] - Financial Management as a Spiritual Issue
- [33:37] - True Riches and Spiritual Faithfulness
- [34:38] - Withholding from God
- [35:19] - Full Surrender to God
- [36:24] - Our Creation and Purpose
- [37:47] - Living in Full Surrender
- [39:43] - Worshiping God in All Circumstances
- [41:24] - Redemption Through Christ
- [53:11] - Call to Full Surrender and Service
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Malachi 3:6-8
- Matthew 16:24
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
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Observation Questions:
1. In Malachi 3:6-8, what specific actions does God accuse the people of, and what are the consequences mentioned? [28:47]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "spiritual robbery," and what are some examples given? [34:38]
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean to live a life of full surrender to God? [35:19]
4. What role does community play in supporting the church's mission, as discussed in the sermon? [25:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the idea of "spiritual robbery" extend beyond financial giving to other aspects of life, according to the sermon? [34:38]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the relationship between God's creation of us and our responsibility to live in full surrender? [36:24]
3. How does the sermon interpret the call to "take up your cross" in Matthew 16:24 in the context of full surrender? [35:19]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our obedience and willingness to serve are offerings to God? [53:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current level of commitment to God. Are there areas in your life where you feel you might be "robbing" God by withholding your time, talents, or resources? How can you address this? [34:38]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of full surrender. What steps can you take this week to move from a part-time commitment to a life of full devotion to God? [35:19]
3. Consider the role of community in your spiritual journey. How can you actively contribute to building a strong church community and support its growth and outreach efforts? [25:22]
4. The sermon discusses the idea of being active participants in God's work. Identify one ministry or outreach opportunity you can get involved in to reflect God's love and grace. [53:11]
5. Reflect on the concept of God's unfailing love and redemption. How does this understanding impact your daily life and decisions? [41:24]
6. The sermon challenges us to live a life that acknowledges God's ownership of our lives. What practical changes can you make to ensure that your life reflects this truth? [36:24]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of taking notes and reflecting on sermons into your spiritual routine to enhance your learning and growth? [30:02]
Devotional
Day 1: The Call to Full Surrender
The call to full surrender is a profound invitation to offer every aspect of our lives to God. It is not limited to financial giving but encompasses our time, talents, and resources. This act of surrender is a recognition that everything we have and are belongs to God. By surrendering fully, we acknowledge that God has created us, redeemed us, and desires a complete commitment from us. This commitment is a spiritual act of obedience, reflecting our understanding that we are stewards of what God has entrusted to us. [35:19]
"For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20, ESV)
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: Recognizing Spiritual Robbery
Spiritual robbery occurs when we withhold from God what is rightfully His. This concept extends beyond tithes and offerings to include our very selves. By withholding, we fail to acknowledge the great price at which God has redeemed us. Living a life of full devotion means recognizing that God deserves our complete commitment. It is a call to examine our lives and identify areas where we may be holding back, whether it be our time, talents, or resources. [34:38]
"Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions." (Malachi 3:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways might you be withholding from God what is rightfully His? How can you begin to offer these areas back to Him today?
Day 3: Active Participation in God's Work
Being an active participant in God's work involves more than just attending church services. It means engaging in ministry, outreach, and living a life that reflects God's love and grace. Our obedience and willingness to serve are offerings to God, demonstrating our commitment to His work. This active participation is a response to God's call to be His hands and feet in the world, contributing to the growth and outreach of the church community. [53:11]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's work this week, whether through ministry, outreach, or simply reflecting His love in your daily interactions?
Day 4: Building a Strong Church Community
A strong church community is built on the active involvement and support of its members. We are called to contribute to the church's needs and be a part of its growth and outreach efforts. This involves supporting one another and being present in the life of the church. By doing so, we create a community that reflects God's love and grace, providing a space for growth and spiritual nourishment. [25:22]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can contribute to building a stronger church community this week? How can you support and encourage others in your congregation?
Day 5: Embracing God's Unfailing Love and Redemption
God's unfailing love and redemption are central to our faith. He has created us, redeemed us, and desires a complete commitment from us. Our response to His love should be a life of full surrender and devotion. By embracing His love and redemption, we acknowledge the great price at which we have been bought and commit to living a life that reflects His grace and mercy. [41:24]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace God's unfailing love and redemption in your life today? What steps can you take to live a life that reflects His grace and mercy?
Quotes
1. "We want to make sure we have people when they first come to church have a good church experience. And so I need somebody right now to help me coordinate all that. I have to try to put together gift bags. I don't use candles. Some might say they want to use cups. Whatever you want to put in the gift bag, I have no care about. I just want to make sure people enjoy themselves when they come worship God. So we need somebody to help me coordinate that. We just try to put together the sentence. So we want the teachers and the coordinators to be faithful in that area." ([00:26:09] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "We want to look at full surrender. We don't believe in part -time creatures. Why? Because Jesus didn't give himself to a part -time deliverance. He died on the cross for you and I. He went to hell. He went to hell for you and I. And if God can die for us, we can live for him. So I'm going to say amen right there. Amen." ([00:35:52] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "We belong to God on Monday and on Tuesday and on Wednesday. You belong to God in the good times and the bad times. You belong to God in the summer and in the winter. You belong to God not just when you're young, but when we say, God, come into my life. We are giving ourselves up to the Lord. And when we choose not to live and surrender to God, we are in a sense denying Him what He fashioned in this world." ([00:37:28] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "We were created to have fellowship with God. We were created to honor God. We were created to lift up God's name. I hope this week you found some time to pray. I hope this week sometime you found time to read and study the very Word of God because people all the time I'm so busy, Pastor. I don't have time to pray. I'm so busy." ([00:38:29] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "And so when we pray, when we pray to have fellowship, we pray to honor God. And when we are surrendering to God, we give Him everything. We praise Him. Sometimes I'm like, God touched my head. God touched my back. God's quick in my body. Whatever we have to do, I want to be found in the house of God. Worshiping God." ([00:39:44] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "If you've not given your all to God, you're robbing God. And not only did God create us. But God has also bought us back at an extremely unbelievable price. He bought us back at a price we ourselves couldn't even pay." ([00:40:35] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "You've been bought with a price. Not with gold, not with dollar bills, but with the precious blood of Jesus. We belong to God. He reached down and picked you up and put you on a solid rock because of his love and his mercy for you. He paid the price for you." ([00:41:24] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "I'm talking about more than just money. Your very life belongs to God. In fact, I just believe somebody here, you can shout this morning because if it hadn't been for God, you'd be in jail right now. If it hadn't been for God, you'd be out there on the streets right now. If it hadn't been for God in your life, you'd be a totally different person." ([00:42:38] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "How many of you remember the day that you ran around in the sand? How many of you remember all the things that you did to yourself? Living in sin and serving to the devil and God came along. Maybe somebody gave you a card. Maybe somebody gave you a flyer. But somebody invited you to the house of God. And when you came out, God loves you." ([00:44:10] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Did you know we're going to go to glory one day? I want my robe. I want my crown. I want my new name in glory. Wherever God has me, it's going to be a blessing. That's much better than anywhere else. I want to be in his presence. How many want to be in the presence of God? Whether here or there, I want to walk in his grace." ([00:48:16] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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