Embracing Surrender: Trusting God's Plan Over Control
Summary
In the sermon titled "Surrender Over Control" by Pastor Rob Dixon at Abundant Life Church, the central theme revolves around the concept of surrendering to God's will rather than trying to maintain control over life's circumstances. Pastor Dixon emphasizes the importance of giving our worries and concerns to God daily, acknowledging that while we cannot control everything, we can choose to rely on God's guidance and lean into His plan for our lives.
Pastor Dixon reflects on personal revelations and the peace that comes from surrendering to God. He encourages the congregation to consider what they need to surrender, whether it be a person, situation, or concern, and to trust that God will carry their burdens. He draws a parallel between our struggles and Jesus' ultimate act of surrender on the cross, where Jesus chose God's will over exerting control.
The sermon also delves into the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, highlighting her initial confusion and disturbance upon learning of her role in God's plan. Despite her fears, Mary chose to trust in God's word and surrender to His purpose. Pastor Dixon uses this narrative to illustrate the power of surrender and obedience to God.
Furthermore, Pastor Dixon discusses the concept of going "all in" with God, pointing out that partial surrender is a common struggle among believers. He warns against underestimating God's power and faithfulness by overestimating our ability to control situations. He reminds the congregation that surrender is not a one-time event but a daily practice that must be continually renewed.
The sermon also recounts the story of Mary and Joseph, emphasizing that on the other side of our faith, we witness God's faithfulness. Despite the challenges they faced, including a decree from King Herod to kill young boys, Mary and Joseph's trust in God exemplified true surrender.
Pastor Dixon addresses the audience's concerns about the future and the challenges of the holiday season, urging them to surrender to God's purpose even when life is confusing. He shares a personal anecdote about driving in slippery conditions, highlighting the importance of obedience and control over one's response, words, attitude, and gratitude in difficult situations.
Key Takeaways:
- Surrendering to God is an act of trust that acknowledges our limitations and God's sovereignty. When we surrender, we admit that we cannot control every aspect of our lives, but we can control our obedience and reliance on God. This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness but a recognition of God's omnipotence and a step towards peace. [32:24]
- The story of Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel serves as a powerful example of surrender. Despite her confusion and fear, Mary's response of "Let it be" to God's plan demonstrates a profound trust in God's purpose for her life. This teaches us that surrendering to God's will can lead to extraordinary outcomes beyond our understanding. [02:15]
- Partial surrender is a common struggle that reflects a lack of trust in God's plan. When we try to control certain areas of our lives while giving others to God, we are not fully trusting in His faithfulness. True surrender means going "all in" with God and allowing Him to guide every aspect of our lives. [21:09]
- The faithfulness of God is evident when we look back at our acts of faith. As seen in the lives of Mary and Joseph, their faith in God's word and surrender to His will resulted in God's provision and protection. This reminds us that God honors our faith with His unwavering faithfulness. [25:27]
- While we may not have control over every situation, we always have the power to surrender to God. This surrender involves our response, our words, our attitude, and our gratitude. By focusing on what we can control and surrendering the rest to God, we can navigate life's challenges with grace and trust in His plan. [19:17]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Surrender Over Control"
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
> In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Mary's initial reaction to the angel Gabriel's message, and how did she express her confusion and disturbance? ([01:06])
2. How did the angel Gabriel reassure Mary about her role in God's plan? ([02:15])
3. What choice did Mary make after hearing the angel's message, and what phrase did she use to express her surrender? ([02:54])
4. According to Pastor Dixon, what is the relationship between our attempts to control and our trust in God? ([06:47])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Mary, despite her initial confusion and fear, chose to surrender to God's will? What does this tell us about her faith? ([02:54])
2. Pastor Dixon mentioned that what we try to control the most is often where we trust God the least. How does this statement challenge our daily lives and decisions? ([06:47])
3. How does the story of Mary and Joseph illustrate the concept of God's faithfulness in response to our acts of faith and surrender? ([25:27])
4. In what ways does Pastor Dixon suggest that partial surrender reflects a lack of trust in God's plan? How can this be seen in our own lives? ([21:09])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you feel the need to control the outcome. How can you practice surrendering this situation to God this week? ([08:02])
2. Mary said, "Let it be to me according to your word." What specific area of your life do you need to say "Let it be" to God's plan? ([02:54])
3. Pastor Dixon shared a personal story about driving in slippery conditions and the importance of controlling one's response. How can you apply this lesson to a current challenge you are facing? ([16:17])
4. Think about a time when you experienced God's faithfulness after an act of surrender. How can this memory encourage you to trust God more fully in a current struggle? ([25:27])
5. Pastor Dixon warned against partial surrender. Identify one area of your life where you have been partially surrendered. What steps can you take to go "all in" with God in this area? ([21:09])
6. During the holiday season, many people feel confused or disturbed. How can you support someone in your life who is struggling with these feelings, and how can you encourage them to surrender their worries to God? ([14:31])
7. Pastor Dixon emphasized that surrender is a daily practice. What daily habits or practices can you implement to remind yourself to surrender to God each day? ([22:20])
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in Divine Sovereignty
Trust is built on the understanding that God's sovereignty surpasses our need for control. Surrendering to God means recognizing that His wisdom and plans are greater than our own. It is a daily commitment to let go of our worries and embrace the peace that comes from trusting in His omnipotence. [32:24]
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."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's sovereignty? How can you actively work on surrendering this area to Him today?
Day 2: Embracing God's Plan with Courage
The story of Mary's encounter with the angel Gabriel teaches us that embracing God's plan requires courage and a willingness to step into the unknown. Like Mary, we are called to respond with faith, even when God's plans seem daunting or unclear. This act of surrender opens the door to God's extraordinary work in our lives. [02:15]
Luke 1:38 - "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you were afraid to follow God's plan? How did you overcome that fear, and what was the result of your obedience?
Day 3: The Challenge of Complete Surrender
Partial surrender is a reflection of our struggle to trust God fully. True surrender requires going "all in" with God, allowing Him to lead every aspect of our lives. It is a journey of learning to trust His faithfulness over our own understanding and control. [21:09]
James 4:7-8 - "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. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
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 4: Witnessing God's Faithfulness
Our acts of faith, especially in times of uncertainty, pave the way for experiencing God's faithfulness. The lives of Mary and Joseph remind us that when we surrender to God's will, He provides and protects, honoring our trust with His steadfast love. [25:27]
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Reflection: Reflect on a past situation where you chose to trust God despite the uncertainty. How did you see God's faithfulness manifest in that situation?
Day 5: The Power of Surrender in Adversity
Surrendering to God in the midst of adversity involves a conscious choice to control our response, words, attitude, and gratitude. It is an active decision to trust God's plan and find grace in the challenges we face, knowing that He is in control. [19:17]
1 Peter 5:6-7 - "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
Reflection: What difficult situation are you currently facing, and how can you surrender your response to God? What practical steps can you take to maintain a positive attitude and gratitude in this time?
Quotes
"We don't always have the power to control everything, but we always have the power to surrender." [14:59] (Download)
"Mary had to make a choice between her plans and God's purpose for her life, her dreams and God's destiny for her life, her desire for control or God's calling and purpose for her life." [14:59] (Download)
"Today is a good day to surrender that thing to God, but the devil is going to try to come and kill, and try to steal from you tomorrow morning. Say no, I've given that to God, I've surrendered that to Him." [35:00] (Download)
"Do what you can do and let God do what He does. Amen. So don't take it back. Amen." [35:32] (Download)
"Almost is a scary thing. God's called us to go all in, but there's a lot of people that are just partially surrendered to God." [20:31] (Download)
"What you control the most is generally where we trust God the least. When we overestimate our ability to control, we're underestimating the goodness and the faithfulness of God." [21:09] (Download)
"To fully surrender is to say we're going all in and to fully follow Jesus is to surrender our control to Him." [22:20] (Download)
"God can do more through your surrender than you can do through your control. It's always way better when we give it to Jesus than when we hold on to it because we weren't meant to carry the burden." [30:03] (Download)
"We don't always have the power to control, but we always have the power to surrender. And when I surrendered to God during that season of my life, oh man, the peace that just surrounded me and just flooded me." [31:19] (Download)
"Cast it on me, you weren't made to carry the burden or the weight. That's why he died on the cross, so that we could give him all of our weight, all of our confusion, all of our questions, all of our worry, all of anxiety, we cast that on him and we surrender that to him." [33:43] (Download)
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