Embracing God's Plan: Surrendering to His Love
Summary
In today's gathering, we delved into the profound truth that God has a specific and glorious plan for each of us, a plan that is deeply intertwined with His Great Commission. We began by centering our hearts on Jesus, acknowledging Him as the author and finisher of our faith, the one who is actively writing our stories. We affirmed our belief that as we fix our eyes on Jesus, He moves powerfully among us, for He inhabits the praises of His people.
We recognized Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life, the only one who brings true fulfillment to our hearts. We discussed how the enemy seeks to distract us from God's plan with small compromises that lead to confusion. Yet, in the midst of America's identity crisis, Jesus extends His hand and invites us to embrace the story He has written for us, a story that culminates in the ultimate act of love: His death, burial, and resurrection.
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, confirming the truth of Scripture and the historical reality of His victory over death. This victory gave birth to the Great Commission, where Jesus, with all authority in heaven and on earth, commands us to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that He has commanded.
We explored the sacrificial love of Jesus, who bore our sins and sicknesses on the cross, offering us healing and abundant life. His blood was the perfect atonement, bringing us into right relationship with God, not through our works, but through His grace. Jesus deemed us worthy of His death, and in turn, He is worthy of our lives.
We were reminded of the greatest commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This love drives us to the nations and to our communities, compelling us to share the gospel out of a response to the love Jesus showed us on the cross.
The sermon concluded with a call to surrender every area of our lives to Jesus, to not withhold any part from Him. We were encouraged to respond to God's stirring in our hearts, whether it be to give our lives to Jesus for the first time, to surrender that one thing we've been holding back, or to ask God to break our hearts for what breaks His, so we might be moved by love to reach the nations and the people around us.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus is the definitive answer to our search for identity and purpose. In a world filled with confusion and false promises, He alone offers a narrative that is both true and life-giving. His resurrection is not just a historical event; it is the validation of our faith and the assurance of our redemption. [01:17:21]
- The Great Commission is not a mere suggestion; it is a mandate powered by the authority of the risen Christ. As His followers, we are called to disciple nations, baptize believers, and teach obedience to His commands, all with the promise of His perpetual presence. [01:18:02]
- The love of God, as demonstrated on the cross, is not a passive emotion but an active, sacrificial giving of oneself. This 'Ahav' love is the model for our devotion to God and should be the driving force behind our mission to share the gospel with the world. [01:26:27]
- True surrender to Jesus means giving Him lordship over every aspect of our lives, not just the parts we are comfortable with. Compromises, no matter how small, can become footholds for the enemy. Full surrender is the pathway to true freedom and protection under the sovereignty of Christ. [01:32:24]
- Our response to the love of Jesus should be one of total commitment. As we lay down our lives, we find the greatest joy and fulfillment. This act of surrender is not a loss but the greatest gain, for in Jesus, we find healing, peace, and the assurance of being part of a story that has been written by the ultimate Author. [01:35:25]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:18-20 - "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
2. Matthew 22:34-40 - "Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"
3. Deuteronomy 6:5 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus command His followers to do in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20?
2. According to Matthew 22:34-40, what are the two greatest commandments that Jesus highlights?
3. How does Deuteronomy 6:5 describe the way we should love God?
4. In the sermon, what are some of the distractions the enemy uses to divert us from God's plan? ([01:16:00])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the resurrection of Jesus considered the cornerstone of our faith according to the sermon? ([01:17:07])
2. How does the Great Commission reflect Jesus' authority and His promise to be with us always? ([01:18:02])
3. What does the term 'Ahav' love mean, and how is it demonstrated by Jesus on the cross? ([01:26:27])
4. What does it mean to fully surrender every area of our lives to Jesus, and why is this important? ([01:32:24])
#### Application Questions
1. Jesus is described as the definitive answer to our search for identity and purpose. In what ways have you experienced confusion or false promises in your search for identity? How can you refocus on Jesus this week? ([01:17:21])
2. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples of all nations. Identify one person in your life who you can share the gospel with this week. What steps will you take to engage them in a spiritual conversation? ([01:18:02])
3. Reflect on the sacrificial love of Jesus. How can you demonstrate this 'Ahav' love in your daily interactions with others? ([01:26:27])
4. Are there any areas of your life that you have not fully surrendered to Jesus? What steps can you take this week to give Him lordship over those areas? ([01:32:24])
5. The sermon mentioned the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. How can you practically show love to a neighbor or community member this week? ([01:25:05])
6. The sermon concluded with a call to respond to God's stirring in our hearts. What is one specific way you feel God is calling you to respond today? ([01:35:25])
7. How can you ask God to break your heart for what breaks His, and what actions can you take to be moved by love to reach the nations and the people around you? ([01:36:07])
Devotional
Day 1: Identity Found in Christ Alone
In a world brimming with confusion and a myriad of voices claiming to know the path to true identity, it is only in Jesus that one finds a narrative that is both authentic and life-giving. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and through His resurrection, believers are offered a firm foundation for their faith and the assurance of their redemption. This profound truth is not merely a historical event to be acknowledged but a transformative reality that validates the entirety of Scripture and solidifies the believer's identity in Christ. The resurrection is the pivotal moment that confirms Jesus' victory over death and provides a clear answer in the search for purpose and meaning.
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4 ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding your identity in Christ change the way you view yourself and your purpose in life?
Day 2: Commissioned by the Risen Lord
The Great Commission is not an optional suggestion but a divine mandate, imbued with the authority of Jesus Christ, who conquered death and rose to reign. As His followers, there is a clear call to action: to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded. This mission is accompanied by the promise of His continual presence, offering comfort and strength to those who step out in obedience. The charge to disciple nations is not just a task for a select few but a collective responsibility for all who claim allegiance to the risen King.
"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Luke 10:2 ESV)
Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to actively participate in the Great Commission within your community?
Day 3: Love That Compels Mission
The love of God, as demonstrated on the cross, is an active, sacrificial giving that goes beyond mere emotion. This 'Ahav' love, a Hebrew term that embodies the very essence of divine love, is the model for our devotion to God and the impetus for our mission to share the gospel. It is a love that is not content with inaction but drives believers to reach out to the nations and their neighbors. The cross is the ultimate expression of God's love, and it is this love that should compel us to live out the gospel in word and deed, sharing the hope of Christ with a world in need.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." (1 John 3:16 ESV)
Reflection: How can you demonstrate sacrificial love to someone in your life this week, as a reflection of Christ's love for you?
Day 4: The Freedom of Full Surrender
True surrender to Jesus involves giving Him lordship over every aspect of life, without reservation. Small compromises can become footholds for the enemy, but full surrender leads to true freedom and protection under Christ's sovereignty. This surrender is not a loss but a pathway to the abundant life that Jesus promises. It is in relinquishing control and trusting in His grace that believers find peace and the strength to resist the distractions and deceptions that the world offers.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 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 5: Joy in Total Commitment
Responding to Jesus' love with total commitment is the pathway to the greatest joy and fulfillment. Laying down one's life for Christ is not a sacrifice of loss but the greatest gain. In Jesus, believers find healing, peace, and the assurance of being part of a story written by the ultimate Author. This act of surrender is the response to the love shown on the cross, where Jesus deemed us worthy of His death. In turn, He is worthy of our lives, our love, and our all.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on the areas of your life that you have yet to commit to Christ. What practical steps can you take to lay these areas down at His feet?
Quotes
"Small compromises become footholds that give the enemy a way into our lives and into our hearts, creating confusion and distracting us from God's plan." [01:16:24] (Download | )
"Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection was the single greatest moment in history because it confirmed everything about scripture and gave birth to the Great Commission." [01:17:21] (Download | )
"Jesus is not just a way of life; He is the way. The world will try to present alternatives, but Jesus is the only one who brings true fulfillment in our hearts." [01:07:13] (Download | )
"Jesus decided that you were worthy of his death, and every time he took that whip with the stones to his body, he was saying, 'I died for that thing that you did, that nobody else knows about.'" [01:23:02] (Download | )
"The love of Jesus on the cross is 'ahave' love, which means to give all of oneself. This is what he asks of us, to give all of ourselves, and it's an honor." [01:26:27] (Download | )
"Jesus took on the sins of the world and bore our sicknesses on the cross, offering us healing and abundant life. His blood was the perfect atonement, bringing us into right relationship with God." [01:22:08] (Download | )
"Jesus says, 'I am the everlasting well of life, the well of living water that springs up from inside of us.' It's always been about Jesus, from the beginning of our story to the end." [01:08:02] (Download | )
"When we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves, this love drives us to the nations and to our communities, compelling us to share the gospel." [01:24:47] (Download | )
"Jesus is calling you today to give him everything. That one thing you've been holding back, Jesus says, 'I've already taken that.' It's time to surrender fully to His love." [01:34:33] (Download | )
"By Jesus' sacrifice, we are adopted into God's family, and when He looks at us, He doesn't see our sin; He sees the blood of Jesus and says, 'You meet my standard.'" [01:14:35] (Download | )
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