Embracing Surrender: Finding Freedom in Faith

 

Summary

In today's world, trust is increasingly hard to come by, especially when it comes to faith and religious communities. This difficulty is exacerbated by our society's negativity bias, which draws us to scandal and corruption, making it challenging to trust institutions, including religious ones. However, the essence of faith is not about control or independence but about surrendering to God. This surrender is not a sign of weakness but a path to true independence. By depending on God for our security, worth, and confidence, we free ourselves from the need to rely on money, appearance, or others' approval. This paradoxical truth is that the more we depend on God, the more independent we become in this world.

Surrendering to God is not about giving up on life but about winning in a deeper sense. It is about turning our lives over to a God who is known and loved, as described by Jesus. This act of surrender is beautifully illustrated in a story about a blind dog and its owner. The owner guides the dog with love and care, making scraping sounds to help the dog navigate. This is akin to how God guides us, even when we cannot see Him or understand spiritual realities. God assures us, "I see you, I got you, I'm with you," through the small, everyday blessings and moments of grace.

Ultimately, life is not about our will or desires but about surrendering to God's will. We may not understand why certain things happen, but we trust that God uses them for a greater purpose. Like Joseph, who was sold into slavery and imprisoned, we may not see the good in our circumstances, but God can use them in amazing ways. A life driven by self-will and ego leads to chaos, but surrendering to God brings peace and purpose. Today, I invite you to take this step of surrender, to offer yourself to God, and to trust in His power, love, and way of life.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Challenge of Trust: In a world drawn to negativity, trusting in institutions, especially religious ones, is increasingly difficult. Yet, faith calls us to trust in God, who is beyond the corruption and scandals of this world. This trust is not blind but rooted in the character of God as revealed through Jesus. [02:54]

2. The Paradox of Dependence: True independence comes from depending on God. When we rely on God for our security, worth, and confidence, we are freed from the need to depend on money, appearance, or others' approval. This dependence on God leads to a deeper sense of freedom and independence in our lives. [03:56]

3. Surrender as Victory: Surrendering to God is not about giving up but about winning in a deeper sense. It is about turning our lives over to a God who is known and loved, as described by Jesus. This surrender brings peace and purpose, freeing us from the chaos of self-will and ego. [06:20]

4. God's Guiding Presence: Like the story of the blind dog and its owner, God guides us with love and care, even when we cannot see Him. Through small, everyday blessings and moments of grace, God assures us, "I see you, I got you, I'm with you." This is a reminder of His constant presence and guidance in our lives. [08:23]

5. Trusting God's Greater Purpose: We may not understand why certain things happen, but we trust that God uses them for a greater purpose. Like Joseph, who was sold into slavery and imprisoned, we may not see the good in our circumstances, but God can use them in amazing ways. This trust in God's greater purpose brings peace and hope. [09:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:32] - The Negativity Bias
- [02:20] - Trust in Institutions
- [03:07] - The Paradox of Dependence
- [04:09] - Surrender and Victory
- [05:11] - Life's Uncontrollable Nature
- [06:20] - Surrender to a Known God
- [07:06] - A Parable of God's Care
- [08:06] - God's Guiding Presence
- [09:09] - Wrestling with Desires
- [09:50] - Invitation to Surrender
- [10:25] - A Prayer of Surrender
- [11:27] - Series and Book Information
- [12:09] - Prayer Requests and Conclusion

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 50:20 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
2. Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus teaches about not worrying and trusting in God's provision.
3. Proverbs 3:5-6 - "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."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the sermon suggest is the main reason trust in religious institutions has declined more than in other institutions? [02:37]

2. How does the sermon describe the paradox of dependence on God leading to greater independence in life? [03:56]

3. In the story of the blind dog, what actions does the owner take to guide and reassure the dog? How does this relate to God's guidance in our lives? [08:06]

4. What example from the Bible is used to illustrate trusting in God's greater purpose despite difficult circumstances? [09:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 illustrate the concept of trusting in God's greater purpose, even when circumstances seem dire?

2. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus talks about not worrying. How does this passage relate to the sermon’s message about surrendering control to God?

3. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages trust in the Lord. How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on surrendering to God’s will rather than relying on self-will? [09:50]

4. The sermon mentions a cultural bias towards self-reliance and control. How does this contrast with the biblical call to surrender and trust in God? [05:52]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to trust in God due to negative experiences with religious institutions. How can you begin to rebuild that trust? [02:37]

2. Consider areas in your life where you rely on external validation (money, appearance, approval). How can you shift your dependence to God for security and worth? [03:40]

3. The sermon describes surrendering to God as a path to victory. What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God, and what steps can you take to do so? [06:20]

4. How can you become more aware of the "small, everyday blessings and moments of grace" that signify God's presence and guidance in your life? [08:38]

5. Think about a current challenge or difficult situation you are facing. How can you trust that God has a greater purpose for it, similar to Joseph’s story? [09:33]

6. The sermon invites us to offer ourselves to God. What does this look like practically in your daily life, and how can you make this a regular practice? [10:25]

7. Identify a specific worry or fear you have about the future. How can you apply Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 to trust God with this concern?

Devotional

Day 1: Trust Beyond Negativity
In a world where negativity often overshadows positivity, trusting in institutions, especially religious ones, can be challenging. The constant exposure to scandals and corruption can erode our faith in these institutions. However, faith calls us to look beyond the imperfections of the world and place our trust in God, whose character is revealed through Jesus. This trust is not blind but is rooted in the understanding that God is beyond the failings of human institutions. By focusing on God's unwavering nature, we can find a foundation for our faith that is not shaken by the world's negativity. [02:54]

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where negativity has made it difficult to trust? How can you begin to shift your focus from the imperfections of the world to the steadfastness of God today?


Day 2: Independence Through Dependence
The paradox of dependence on God is that it leads to true independence. When we rely on God for our security, worth, and confidence, we are liberated from the need to depend on material wealth, physical appearance, or the approval of others. This dependence on God allows us to experience a deeper sense of freedom and independence in our lives. By surrendering our need for control and placing our trust in God, we find a new kind of independence that is not bound by worldly measures. [03:56]

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV): "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking independence through worldly means? How can you begin to depend more on God for your sense of security and worth today?


Day 3: Surrender as a Path to Victory
Surrendering to God is not about giving up but about achieving victory in a deeper sense. It involves turning our lives over to a God who is known and loved, as described by Jesus. This act of surrender brings peace and purpose, freeing us from the chaos of self-will and ego. By letting go of our own desires and aligning ourselves with God's will, we find a sense of fulfillment and victory that transcends worldly success. [06:20]

James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to surrender to God? What steps can you take today to begin aligning this area with God's will?


Day 4: Guided by God's Presence
The story of the blind dog and its owner illustrates how God guides us with love and care, even when we cannot see Him. Through small, everyday blessings and moments of grace, God assures us of His constant presence and guidance. This assurance allows us to navigate life's uncertainties with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [08:23]

Psalm 32:8 (ESV): "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment where you felt God's guidance in your life. How can you become more aware of His presence and guidance in your daily routine?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Greater Purpose
We may not always understand why certain things happen, but we can trust that God uses them for a greater purpose. Like Joseph, who was sold into slavery and imprisoned, we may not see the good in our circumstances, but God can use them in amazing ways. This trust in God's greater purpose brings peace and hope, allowing us to find meaning even in difficult situations. [09:33]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you begin to trust that God has a greater purpose for this situation, and what steps can you take to align yourself with His plan?

Quotes


The more I depend on God for example for my security the less I have to depend on money the more I depend on God for my worth the less I have to depend on my physical appearance the more that I depend God on God for confidence the less I have to depend on uh other people's approval. [00:03:30]

Surrender is the surrender surrender to God that brings Victory and folks with all kinds of addictions have found the more that I depend on God when I turn my life in my will over to God then I no longer have to depend on this subject to which I was this object to which I was addicted. [00:04:05]

The writings of the Saints are full of commands to let go to submit yourself to what seems to be the will of the almighty these are the wise ones that have gone before us all of American culture and pop psychology scream against that never give up on your dreams just keep knocking the door is about to open. [00:05:38]

We cannot we are not in control we surrender in order to win not just to any God to a god in particular to The God Who is known and loved and described by Jesus there's a wonderful little picture of this care we we turn our will in our lives over to the care of God. [00:06:13]

The dog could not see but he had a tennis ball in his mouth and he seemed to be Gary said almost laughing with joy and the woman was walking backwards kind of in figure eight facing that dog watching that dog and she was with her shoes kind of scraping along in that asphalt parking lot. [00:07:39]

She kept talking to the dog and saying I see you I got you I'm with you and it was a picture of love and care for a little creature that was kind of helpless the Gary said it was it was like a little Parable it was like God saying I know you can't see I know you can't see me. [00:08:06]

I know you can't see spiritual reality but I just want you to know I see it I'm with you I got you and I'll make little scraping sense uh the beauty of the Earth the smile of a friend a thought of Hope the offering of a prayer the giving of a gift that I'll make little scraping sound. [00:08:28]

We turn our Wills my choices from one moment to the next it's not about my will it's not about my desires it's not about my circumstances it's not about my outcomes those two I Surrender we struggle and wrestle and doubt with God sometimes like but I want this good thing and I want this good thing. [00:08:59]

I want this for my child or I want this for my family or I want this from my body or for my health maybe maybe maybe maybe not but it's ultimately not about can I get these desires because I'm not God I am not in control I don't know what is best Joseph would never have thought. [00:09:23]

Joseph would never have thought that ended up being sold into slavery and then ended up being sold into prison would be best but God used it in amazing ways I don't know all I know is I'm not in control and a life run on self-will and ego is going to be a train wreck. [00:09:28]

Today my friend in The Fellowship of the withered hand if you're ready I want to invite you to take this third step this momentous step this act of surrender that so many have done before for that Jesus still comes and calls people to there's a prayer in 12 step circles. [00:09:47]

God I offer myself to you to build with me and to do with me as you will relieve me of my bondage to self that I might better do your will take away my difficulties that victory over them might bear witness to those I would help of your power your love and your way of life. [00:10:30]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?