Embracing God's Timing: The Journey of Surrender
Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the concept of surrendering to God's timing and the transformative journey of living a surrendered life. We began by acknowledging the tension we often feel between God's promises and their fulfillment in our lives. We sing about God being an on-time God, yet we struggle with the reality of waiting for His timing. This impatience is a reflection of our desire to control outcomes and our reluctance to fully trust in God's plan.
We delved into the analogy of a child caught with something they shouldn't have, highlighting the parallel of God asking us to surrender what we're hiding behind our backs. Like a parent, God already knows what we're holding onto, and His request for surrender is not to harm us but to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. We examined 1 Peter 5:6, which instructs us to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand so that He may lift us up in due time.
We revisited the foundational truths shared by Bishop last week: God made us, knows us, loves us, and is pursuing us. These truths ground us in our identity and relationship with God, enabling us to stand firm against the enemy's lies. We discussed the importance of surrendering to God's rule, plan, process, and especially His timing, which we often find the most challenging.
The sermon then shifted to practical steps for living a surrendered life. We emphasized the need to give our first fruits to God, trust in Him with all our hearts, and seek His will in everything we do. We were reminded that we are not our own; we were bought with a price and must honor God with our bodies and our lives.
We considered the possibility that the areas where we struggle the most might be the ones we haven't fully surrendered to God. Our success and fulfillment of God's purpose for our lives are directly tied to our total surrender to Christ. We were encouraged to examine our hearts and ensure that we are fully surrendered to God's will.
The sermon concluded with a call to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ as the first step in a lifelong journey of knowing God, finding freedom, discovering purpose, and making a difference. We were reminded that surrendering to God is not a one-time event but a continuous process of trusting and obeying Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Surrendering to God's timing requires a deep trust in His character and promises. When we understand that God's timing is perfect, we can rest in the assurance that He is working all things for our good, even when it seems like we are waiting indefinitely. This trust is built on a relationship with God that is nurtured through prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word. [09:53]
- True surrender manifests both internally and externally. When we are fully surrendered to God on the inside, it will inevitably show in our actions and decisions. This means living a life that is consistent with our faith, where our choices reflect our commitment to God's will and purpose for our lives. [12:43]
- The process of surrender involves giving up control. Many of us struggle with the desire to manage every aspect of our lives, but true surrender means trusting God enough to let go of our need for control. This can be a challenging but liberating experience, as we learn to rely on God's wisdom and guidance rather than our own. [17:56]
- Surrender is not passive; it is an active choice to align ourselves with God's will. It involves making daily decisions to follow God's leading, even when it conflicts with our own desires or the patterns of the world. This choice is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who helps us to live in obedience to God. [24:51]
- A surrendered life is marked by a commitment to knowing God more intimately. As we prioritize our relationship with God, we grow in our understanding of His nature and His love for us. This knowledge fuels our trust and deepens our surrender, leading to a life that is fully devoted to God's purposes. [26:17]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Peter 5:6 - "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
2. Proverbs 3:5-7 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil."
3. Psalm 139:1-4 - "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 5:6, what is the result of humbling ourselves under God’s mighty hand?
2. In Proverbs 3:5-7, what are we instructed to do instead of relying on our own understanding?
3. How does Psalm 139 describe God's knowledge of us? What does this imply about our ability to hide things from Him?
4. The sermon mentioned a common struggle with God's timing. What analogy was used to illustrate this struggle? ([05:15])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, and how does this relate to surrendering control in our lives? ([06:46])
2. How can trusting in the Lord with all our heart, as stated in Proverbs 3:5-7, help us in the process of surrendering to His timing and plan? ([21:45])
3. Reflecting on Psalm 139, how does knowing that God is familiar with all our ways impact our willingness to surrender hidden areas of our lives to Him? ([01:15])
4. The sermon emphasized that true surrender manifests both internally and externally. How can we recognize if we are truly surrendered to God in our daily actions? ([12:43])
#### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you struggled with waiting for God's timing. How did you handle it, and what could you do differently in the future to trust in His perfect timing? ([04:29])
2. Identify an area of your life where you find it difficult to surrender control. What steps can you take this week to begin surrendering that area to God? ([17:56])
3. How can you incorporate the practice of giving your first fruits to God in your daily routine? What specific changes can you make to prioritize this practice? ([33:41])
4. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did it align with God's will and purpose for your life? How can you ensure that your future decisions reflect a surrendered heart? ([12:43])
5. Consider the analogy of a child hiding something behind their back. What are you currently holding onto that God is asking you to surrender? How can you take a step towards letting it go this week? ([05:15])
6. How can you deepen your relationship with God to build the trust needed for true surrender? What specific actions can you take to nurture this relationship through prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word? ([26:17])
7. Reflect on the statement that our success and fulfillment of God's purpose for our lives are tied to our total surrender to Christ. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are fully surrendered to God's will? ([35:51])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
Trusting in God's timing is a profound exercise in faith, acknowledging that His understanding surpasses our own. It's about recognizing that the moments of waiting are not wasted but are part of a divine orchestration for our ultimate good. This trust is not passive; it requires active engagement with God through prayer, worship, and reflection on His Word. As we grow in our relationship with God, we learn to appreciate His timing, even when it doesn't align with our immediate desires or expectations. The peace that comes from this trust can sustain us through periods of uncertainty and anticipation. [09:53]
"Yet those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Reflection: How can you actively cultivate trust in God's timing in a situation where you are currently waiting for His intervention?
Day 2: Living Out Our Surrender
True surrender to God is not merely an internal stance but one that is evident in our daily lives. When we fully submit to God, our actions, choices, and interactions with others begin to reflect His will and purpose. This transformation is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit within us, guiding us to live in a way that honors God and aligns with our professed beliefs. Surrendering to God means our lives become a living testimony to His grace, impacting not just ourselves but those around us. [12:43]
"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 your actions could better reflect your commitment to God's will?
Day 3: Embracing the Freedom of Letting Go
Surrendering control is a challenging aspect of faith that calls us to rely on God's wisdom rather than our own. It involves recognizing that our vision is limited and that God's perspective is infinitely greater. Letting go of our need to manage every detail of our lives opens us up to the freedom that comes with trusting in God's perfect plan. This surrender is a liberating journey that leads us away from anxiety and towards a life of peace and reliance on God's providential care. [17:56]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5 ESV
Reflection: What is one aspect of your life where you need to release control and trust in God's guidance instead?
Day 4: The Active Choice of Surrender
Surrender to God is a deliberate decision to align our will with His. It's an ongoing process that involves daily choices to follow His lead, even when it's counter to our desires or societal norms. This active surrender is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to live in obedience to God's commands. As we make this choice consistently, we find our lives transformed and our relationship with God deepened. [24:51]
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Reflection: What is one decision you can make today that will align your life more closely with God's will?
Day 5: Intimacy with God Through Surrender
A life surrendered to God is characterized by a deep desire to know Him more intimately. As we prioritize our relationship with God, we gain a greater understanding of His character, His love, and His desires for us. This knowledge is not just intellectual but experiential, coming from a place of close communion with God. It is this intimacy that fuels our trust and deepens our surrender, leading us to a life that is fully devoted to His purposes. [26:17]
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Reflection: In what ways can you seek to deepen your relationship with God this week to foster greater intimacy and trust?
Quotes
"Surrendering to God is a lifelong Progressive journey to know God, to find Freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference. The more you know him, the more you'll trust him. Prioritize spending quality time with God." [31:49] ()
"We want to sing 'He's an on-time God,' but what we really want to say is 'He's an on-time God, it's 11:45, yes he is, it's getting close to 12.' That's what's really going on because we're like, 'God, you said, you promised... but Lord, I'm having a problem with that timing.'" [04:29] ()
"God's not looking to crush us. When he asks something of us to surrender, it's not as if he doesn't know that we got something behind our back... when he asked Adam 'where are you,' it wasn't that he didn't know the geographical location of where Adam was, he's like 'where are you in your heart?'" [06:46] ()
"What we prioritize is what gets the attention, and what gets the attention gets the result. When we prioritize, when we are intentional, it gets results." [26:17] ()
"Proverbs 3:5-7 says 'trust and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.' In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize him, that's our part, and he will make your path straight and smooth, removing obstacles that block your way, that's his part." [21:45] ()
"If you are truly surrendered on the inside, it will manifest on the outside. If something is working on the inside, it will show on the outside because the word says 'out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.'" [12:43] ()
"My decision to walk with Christ in total surrender didn't have a prenup. It's just surrender. There were no stipulations on that. But surrender is particularly difficult if you test positive for control-a-virus." [16:26] ()
"Mark 10:15 says 'Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' You cannot have Christ and have control. You cannot have both." [19:32] ()
"Could it be where we've been having the most issues in our life is the part we haven't fully surrendered to Him? Our success and how we get to the perfect place of purpose and destiny is tied to how much we totally surrender our lives to Christ." [35:51] ()
"Sometimes there's messages that just kind of prick at your heart, like 'whoa, wait a minute,' they make you think, 'Do I have everything surrendered to Him? Everything?' And if my success to where God wants me to be is tied in my total surrender, I want to make sure I totally surrender to Him." [36:31] ()
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