Finding Hope and Restoration Through Surrender to Jesus
Summary
In this sermon, the pastor addresses the challenges of living in a world filled with problems and the struggle to find solutions. He emphasizes the importance of surrendering to Jesus and finding hope and restoration in Him. The pastor encourages the congregation to bring their brokenness, wickedness, and wounds to Jesus, and participate in communion as a symbol of their faith. He also highlights the need for humility and the transformative power of admitting one's own brokenness and dependence on God's grace.
The pastor continues his study of the Book of James, focusing on the sources of conflicts and the role of passions and desires that lead to these conflicts. He warns against being friends with the world, as it creates hostility toward God, and discusses the concept of double-mindedness and the need for humility before the Lord. The pastor also reflects on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the promise of new life that comes through His resurrection.
The pastor discusses the importance of restraining oneself from sin, not to make oneself more precious to God, but to make God more precious to us. He highlights the consequences of not directing our desires towards God, which leads to discontentment and unfulfilled desires. The pastor also discusses the significance of asking God for the right motives and not pursuing things that we wouldn't pray for.
The pastor addresses the issue of wars and fights that arise among people, explaining that these conflicts stem from three enemies: the flesh, the world, and the devil. He uses the analogy of a vehicle with multiple problems to illustrate how conflicts in the Christian life are not solely caused by the devil but can also involve one's own actions and the influence of the world. The pastor also discusses the strategy of the devil and how it works in conjunction with deceitful ideas and disordered desires in a sinful society.
The pastor concludes the sermon by discussing the importance of being faithful in relationships and choosing love as a conscious decision rather than just relying on feelings. He emphasizes the importance of community and accountability in restraining our desires, not to make ourselves more precious to God, but to make God more precious to us. He also discusses the topic of pride and humility, highlighting three markers of pride and contrasting them with the characteristics of humility.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of surrendering to Jesus and finding hope and restoration in Him. He encourages the congregation to bring their brokenness, wickedness, and wounds to Jesus, and participate in communion as a symbol of their faith. This act of surrender and faith can lead to transformation and restoration. ([12:45])
- The pastor discusses the sources of conflicts and the role of passions and desires that lead to these conflicts. He warns against being friends with the world, as it creates hostility toward God, and discusses the concept of double-mindedness and the need for humility before the Lord. This understanding can help individuals navigate conflicts and maintain their faith. ([24:30])
- The pastor highlights the importance of restraining oneself from sin, not to make oneself more precious to God, but to make God more precious to us. He discusses the significance of asking God for the right motives and not pursuing things that we wouldn't pray for. This perspective can help individuals align their desires with God's will and experience a deeper relationship with Him. ([36:15])
- The pastor explains that conflicts in the Christian life stem from three enemies: the flesh, the world, and the devil. He uses the analogy of a vehicle with multiple problems to illustrate this concept. Understanding these sources of conflict can help individuals recognize and address the root causes of their struggles. ([48:50])
- The pastor discusses the importance of being faithful in relationships and choosing love as a conscious decision rather than just relying on feelings. He emphasizes the importance of community and accountability in restraining our desires. This perspective can help individuals build stronger relationships and experience a deeper love for God and others. ([59:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1) James 4:1-10 [07:03]
2) James 4:6 [06:20]
Observation Questions:
1) In James 4:1-10, what are the sources of wars and fights mentioned?
2) What does James 4:6 say about God's attitude towards the proud and the humble?
Interpretation Questions:
1) How does James 4:1-10 explain the role of our desires in causing conflicts?
2) What does James 4:6 imply about the importance of humility in our relationship with God?
Application Questions:
1) Can you identify a recent conflict in your life that was driven by your desires? How could you have handled it differently?
2) How can you cultivate humility in your daily interactions this week?
3) Can you think of a situation where you were proud and resisted God's grace? How can you ensure you don't repeat it?
4) How can you resist the devil in your life as suggested in James 4:7?
5) How can you draw near to God this week as suggested in James 4:8?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Humility
Humility is a powerful tool in our spiritual journey. It is the key to receiving God's grace and the antidote to pride, which God resists. Humility involves surrendering to Jesus, acknowledging our own brokenness, and recognizing that our worthiness comes from Him alone. It is through humility that we can truly experience life, forgiveness, and abundance ([35:03]).
Proverbs 22:4 - "Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you could have shown more humility. How can you apply the power of humility in your daily life moving forward?
Day 2: The Danger of Unchecked Desires
Unchecked desires can lead to discontentment and conflict. These desires, when not pointed towards God, can lead us astray and cause us to pursue things that are not beneficial for us. It is important to align our desires with God's will and to seek His guidance in all our pursuits ([27:51]).
James 1:14-15 - "But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Reflection: What are some desires in your life that you need to surrender to God? How can you align these desires with His will?
Day 3: The Call to Brokenness
Brokenness is not a state to be avoided but rather a state to be embraced. It is in our brokenness that we become open to God's entry into our lives. When we admit our brokenness and bring it to Jesus, we experience life, forgiveness, and abundance ([32:56]).
Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel broken? How can you bring this brokenness to Jesus and allow Him to heal and restore you?
Day 4: The Problem of Worldly Friendship
Friendship with the world is hostility towards God. When we align ourselves with worldly values and pursuits, we become enemies of God. It is important to resist the temptation of worldly friendship and instead seek friendship with God ([06:20]).
1 John 2:15-17 - "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
Reflection: In what ways have you been seeking friendship with the world? How can you shift your focus and seek friendship with God instead?
Day 5: The Solution is Jesus
Jesus is the solution to all our problems. He is our Savior, our Rabbi, and our Lord. In every situation, we need to point out the problem and show that Jesus is the answer. It is through surrender and obedience to Jesus that we can truly experience peace and fulfillment ([01:39]).
Acts 4:12 - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Reflection: What problems are you currently facing? How can you surrender these problems to Jesus and trust Him to be your solution?
Quotes
"We have a gridlock in the Middle East, but we also have a gridlock in our own souls."
"James here is really helpful to point out the problem, the real problem, and then ushering us into the actual solution which can be applied to any and all conflicts."
"The working theory of the devil's strategy is this deceitful ideas that play to disordered desires."
"The good news of the Gospel is the Way Up Is Down... We surrender to that... Jesus was broken on our behalf so you and I could be made whole, but the crazy part about the gospel is for us to be whole we have to come to him broken."
"Restrain it not to make ourselves more precious to God but to make God more precious to us."
"If you're pursuing something you're not willing to ask God for, maybe you shouldn't pursue that thing in the first place."
"Our Wars and fights stem from three enemies: the flesh, the world, and the devil."
"We need to come to Jesus with our brokenness, with our wickedness, with our wounds, with all the things that our flesh has brought us to. Not in condemnation, but in conviction, because when we bring it to him, we experience life and forgiveness and abundance."
"Desires for things God has forbidden are a reflection of how sin has distorted me, not how God has made me."
"The culture says if you think it, that means it's your authentic self and you better pursue it. The Bible says there's a lot of things that may come up within you and they're not real, they're not right. It's deceptive ideas that play to our disorder desires that are normalized in a sinful society."
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