Embracing Total Surrender: A Call to Worship
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of total surrender to God, emphasizing the importance of being fully devoted to Jesus and His sovereign role in our lives. When we truly surrender, we open ourselves to experiencing God's abiding presence in fresh and unique ways, gaining unexplainable peace and overwhelming joy. This surrender allows God's power to flow through us, providing supernatural provision and sustaining our lives. The call to raise the white flag of surrender is an invitation to give up control and submit to God's word, authority, spirit, and will for our lives.
We are reminded that life is full of different seasons, and just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in our spiritual journey. This current season is a call for unity and worship, urging us to bring our spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. We are living stones, being built into a spiritual house where God's presence dwells. It's crucial to value the gathered church and be planted in the house of the Lord, as this is where we flourish.
The message also challenges us to examine our spiritual sacrifices, such as the sacrifice of our bodies, praise, finances, and prayer. We are called to be bold in our worship and to avoid lukewarm Christianity, which lacks the fervor and commitment that God desires. Instead, we should strive to be on fire for God, living lives that reflect our devotion and willingness to follow Him wholeheartedly.
Prayer is highlighted as a vital spiritual sacrifice, likened to incense that rises to God as a sweet aroma. We are encouraged to come near to God, presenting our requests and engaging in a relationship with Him. This involves more than just reciting prayers; it's about drawing close to God, sharing our hearts, and seeking His presence.
Key Takeaways:
- Total Surrender: Embracing total surrender to God leads to experiencing His presence, peace, and joy in profound ways. It requires giving up control and submitting to His will, allowing His power to flow through us and sustain our lives. [00:14]
- Value of Community: Being part of a spiritual community is essential for growth and flourishing. We are called to be living stones, built into a spiritual house where God's presence dwells, emphasizing the importance of unity and worship. [06:04]
- Bold Worship: Avoiding lukewarm Christianity means being bold in our worship and devotion to God. We are challenged to live lives that reflect our commitment to Him, being willing to follow Him wholeheartedly and make sacrifices in our daily lives. [09:49]
- Prayer as a Sacrifice: Prayer is a vital spiritual sacrifice, likened to incense rising to God. It involves coming near to God, sharing our hearts, and seeking His presence, rather than just reciting prayers. This relationship with God is essential for spiritual growth. [22:11]
- Seasons of Worship: Recognizing the different seasons in our spiritual journey helps us understand the current call to worship and unity. This season is about bringing our spiritual sacrifices to the Lord and being prepared for what He has in store for us. [05:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Total Surrender
- [01:05] - Series Overview
- [02:23] - Spiritual Sacrifices
- [03:07] - Seasons of Worship
- [05:23] - Living Stones
- [06:37] - Value of Community
- [09:11] - Bold Worship
- [12:01] - Lukewarm Christianity
- [13:49] - Sacrifice of Finances
- [17:10] - Obedience and Covering
- [19:59] - Family and Faithfulness
- [22:11] - Sacrifice of Prayer
- [25:10] - Relationship in Prayer
- [29:07] - The Lord's Prayer
- [33:34] - Names of God in Prayer
- [45:41] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Peter 2:5 - "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
2. Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
3. Psalm 141:2 - "May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Peter 2:5 suggest about the role of believers in the spiritual community? How does this relate to the concept of being "living stones"? [05:35]
2. In Romans 12:1, what does it mean to offer our bodies as a "living sacrifice"? How is this connected to the idea of total surrender discussed in the sermon? [15:33]
3. How does Psalm 141:2 describe prayer, and what imagery is used to convey its significance? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on prayer as a spiritual sacrifice? [22:42]
4. According to the sermon, what are some of the spiritual sacrifices we are called to offer, and how do they reflect our devotion to God? [09:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of being "living stones" in 1 Peter 2:5 help us understand our role in the church community? What does it mean to be built into a "spiritual house"? [05:51]
2. In what ways does the concept of total surrender, as discussed in the sermon, challenge our understanding of control and submission in our spiritual lives? [00:30]
3. How can the practice of prayer, as described in Psalm 141:2, transform our relationship with God? What does it mean for our prayers to be like incense? [22:42]
4. The sermon mentions different seasons in our spiritual journey. How can recognizing these seasons help us respond to God’s call for unity and worship? [05:08]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current level of surrender to God. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to give up control? How can you take a step towards total surrender this week? [00:45]
2. Consider your involvement in your church community. How can you become more "planted" in the house of the Lord to flourish spiritually? What practical steps can you take to deepen your connections within the church? [06:23]
3. The sermon challenges us to avoid lukewarm Christianity. What specific actions can you take to ignite your passion for God and live a life that reflects bold worship? [09:49]
4. How can you incorporate prayer as a vital part of your daily routine, ensuring it is more than just reciting words but a genuine connection with God? What changes can you make to prioritize prayer in your life? [22:11]
5. Identify a spiritual sacrifice you feel called to make, whether it be your time, resources, or talents. How can you offer this sacrifice to God in a way that honors Him and reflects your devotion? [09:11]
6. Think about a season in your life where you felt distant from God. What steps can you take to draw near to Him and experience His peace and joy in this current season? [05:08]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or church community to embrace total surrender and live out their faith boldly? What role can you play in fostering a spirit of unity and worship? [06:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Total Surrender
When we embrace total surrender to God, we open ourselves to experiencing His presence, peace, and joy in profound ways. This surrender involves giving up control and submitting to His will, allowing His power to flow through us and sustain our lives. By raising the white flag of surrender, we invite God to take the lead, trusting in His wisdom and guidance. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to let go of our own desires and align ourselves with God's purpose. [00:14]
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, 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: The Importance of Spiritual Community
Being part of a spiritual community is essential for growth and flourishing. We are called to be living stones, built into a spiritual house where God's presence dwells. This emphasizes the importance of unity and worship, as we gather together to bring our spiritual sacrifices to the Lord. In this current season, we are urged to value the gathered church and be planted in the house of the Lord, as this is where we flourish and grow in our faith. [06:04]
"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: How can you actively contribute to the unity and growth of your spiritual community this week?
Day 3: Boldness in Worship
Avoiding lukewarm Christianity means being bold in our worship and devotion to God. We are challenged to live lives that reflect our commitment to Him, being willing to follow Him wholeheartedly and make sacrifices in our daily lives. Bold worship involves stepping out of our comfort zones and expressing our love for God with passion and fervor. It is about being on fire for God and allowing our lives to be a testament to His greatness. [09:49]
"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you express boldness in your worship and devotion to God today?
Day 4: The Sacrifice of Prayer
Prayer is a vital spiritual sacrifice, likened to incense rising to God. It involves coming near to God, sharing our hearts, and seeking His presence, rather than just reciting prayers. This relationship with God is essential for spiritual growth, as it allows us to draw closer to Him and experience His love and guidance. Prayer is not just about presenting our requests but engaging in a meaningful relationship with our Creator. [22:11]
"Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!" (Psalm 141:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your prayer life to make it a more meaningful and intimate conversation with God?
Day 5: Recognizing Seasons of Worship
Recognizing the different seasons in our spiritual journey helps us understand the current call to worship and unity. This season is about bringing our spiritual sacrifices to the Lord and being prepared for what He has in store for us. Just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in our spiritual lives that require us to adapt and grow. By being attuned to these seasons, we can better align ourselves with God's purpose and be ready to respond to His call. [05:08]
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV)
Reflection: What season do you feel you are currently in on your spiritual journey, and how can you align yourself with God's purpose during this time?
Quotes
"toal toal surrender is an appeal to all believers be fully devoted to Jesus in his Sovereign role if we fully surrender we will experience God's abiding presence a fresh and unique way have unexplainable peace and overwhelming joyable power will begin to flow through US Supernatural provision will sustain our lives are you willing to raise up W the white flag that humbly says to God take my life take it all take everything I willingly give up all control and surrender to you your word your Authority your spirit and to Heaven's will for my life is surrender worth it" [00:00:03]
"you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house that you and I we are temples of the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit lives inside of us we're a living Stone but we're called to come together and to be built into this spiritual house a a place where his holy spirit lives and dwells a place that shines his glory to the world and I just I I find so often many people do not value the gathered Church they don't value being built into a spiritual house and the Bible says planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of God" [00:05:46]
"lukewarm Christianity we know what the Bible says about that and I've been praying God like turn up the heat here in my life and and in people's lives and us as a church like turn the heat up and in Acts chap 28:3 it says this it says Paul gathered a pile of Brushwood and as he put it on the fire a Viper driven out by the heat fastened itself on its hand like Paul got this W and he put it on the fire it got hotter and as it got hotter the Viper was driven out by the Heat and and as God turns up the heat in my life your life us as a church how many of you know it's going to show some vipers" [00:09:56]
"lukewarm Christians they typically don't live uh they rarely share their faith with their neighbors co-workers or friends I love what Charles Spurgeon said he said this you're either a missionary or you're an impostor and I just think we live in a day and age and I'll just be honest even as a pastor I I think we live in a day and age where pastors would rather get on a podast and tell someone about Jesus and I've been saying God man make me hungry for your kingdom and I'm not saying we shouldn't get on a podcast and we shouldn't teach the word of God but I'm just saying are we are we sharing our faith when's the last time we've shared our faith with someone" [00:12:09]
"worship is really a a posture of reverence honor and Devotion to God in Acts first Corin Ians 10:31 it says whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do it all for the glory of God think about that for a second whatever you do if you're greeting at church do it for the glory of God when you go to your work whatever you do work at it with all your heart is working for the Lord not for men why you're doing that as the glory of God and if you're a business owner uh like your business should have some Integrity it should glorify God the way you run that business why cuz that's worship to him" [00:14:26]
"and I was just thinking how many people it's so sad to me they're getting crushed by hail but the the deep down heart is they're rejecting the word of the lord they're they're not coming under his covering and his Blessing and worship they're saying nope God I don't I don't need it and then they get upset that hail is hitting them in the face I'm not saying life's going to be perfect it's going to be great it's going to be easy there's challenges and trials I would much rather go through those with the peace of God in my life I'd much rather go through those with his Blessing and his covery" [00:18:46]
"and I want to teach us just a little bit and then I want to give us some practical ways to help us understand prayer maybe even increase our prayer life so priests knew this they were to offer prayers to God and those prayers were offered up they would Ascend to heaven like in incense and these prayers would enter the nostrils of God and it would be a sweet Aroma to him let's look at Psalms 141 verse two it says may my prayer be set before you like incense May the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice so this is David talking and he couldn't get to the Tabernacle because he's stuck out in the wilderness trying to avoid being assassinated" [00:22:11]
"and God is you got to remember he he's into relationship intimacy he he wants to be close so it's not this idea of us sitting on the couch watching television and our glass of water is empty and we're like hey God could you give me a glass of water since you're up Hey God like those chips in the pantry can you get those real quick and and I stay focused on what I'm doing and I'm asking him to come get this and oh thanks for the chips over there hey have a great day and no it says uh uh come near I I want always offering prayers I I I want you to come near face to face with me eyeball to eyeball I want you to shut the television off I I want you to sit down over a cup of coffee and get close to me and share with me what's on your heart bring to me your request" [00:25:40]
"and I want us to understand how this works and I just want to look at Hallowed be thy name that's it and there's many different names of God okay so one of them is he is Jehovah Gyra do you know what that means anyone know the Lord will provide he is our provider and and so what I will do I I use his name I'll pray for anyone that I know needs God to pray provide like I'll pray for connection point that God would be as Pro like provide I I pray for uh my own life like and with that so the the names found in Genesis when Abraham you know uh was laid down his son and then a ram and so I even asked myself God am I coming to you asking you to provide but I'm not under your covering I can't do that so first of all is there anything in my life that I'm not being obedient anything you've asked me to do I I want to be under and then now I'm asking that you would be my provider" [00:33:34]
"he's Jehovah gy he's El Shai uh we can look at another one he's Jehovah Rafa that means the Lord heals I so I bring to the Lord like I I I believe you can bring healing physically emotionally and spiritually to someone's life and so I'm praying uh for that person and how many of you know somebody who uh physically needs a healing they got something going on in their body I mean I bet quite a few of us would maybe it's you and so in prayer like I I bring to the Lord that person um uh later on in the Lord's Prayer It's Your Kingdom Come uh your will be done like I'm pray for people that need to know the Lord but I also like I'm just going to throw out one person that I know um in my family um he used to be he and I've been praying for him so much that God pray that you would heal his heart from the hurt that he experienced a long time ago that caused him to drift away from you" [00:36:32]
"and I pray for those who are wanting to give up Lord and and I'll lift list certain people that I'm praying for and and how many you know this could turn into hours sometimes I like God I I really do want to have a life like I can't do this you know but it's like it's so much more than 30 seconds he he gives us a throw up one more and then um ah Jehovah nii he's our Banner so what they do is they would have a banner and if you're going into war like you know they they'd like look to the banner this is where we're going this is the rallying cry this is what I uh he is my banner anyone here have decisions to make and you don't know what decision to make do I take this job or this job do I go to this place or this place do I move here or do this do and I don't know so he is my banner I'm looking to you God I need guidance I need I need uh where what steps do I need to take" [00:40:00]
"and I pray right now as we take time to worship you a song we take time to abandon our heart and show you honor and reverence and Devotion to you that God your spirit would be so strong in this place that when we leave we we want to have coffee with you we want to come face to face we we want to we get a glimpse of your presence and we just want to know you more we want to we we want to talk more we want to be closer to you more and so I I just invite your Holy Spirit here to do whatever you want in Jesus name my heart my soul" [00:45:41]
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