Living Surrendered: Faithfulness in God's Kingdom

The call of Jesus is not simply to believe, but to surrender our lives fully to Him, to say, “Here I am, Lord—Haneni—use me for Your purposes.” As we look at the parable in Luke 19, we see that while the King is away, His servants are entrusted with resources and responsibilities, not to be hidden or neglected, but to be invested and multiplied for the sake of His kingdom. Each of us has been given gifts, time, and opportunities, and we are called to use them to reach the lost, serve the body of Christ, and expand God’s kingdom in our generation.

Patience is required as we wait for Christ’s return, just as the first disciples had to learn that the kingdom would not come all at once. In the meantime, we are not to be passive or stagnant, but active and faithful, even in the face of opposition. The world may resist the ways of Jesus, and we will encounter resistance, but we are called to hold fast to both truth and love, never compromising either. Our faithfulness is not measured by comfort or ease, but by our willingness to serve, to sacrifice, and to persevere.

The parable warns us against the danger of spiritual complacency—of wrapping up what God has given us and hiding it away out of fear, busyness, or indifference. When the King returns, excuses will not stand. We have been given everything we need: the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and a community of believers. God has already prepared good works for us to walk in, and He goes before us, equipping and empowering us for every task.

Ultimately, the question is not just what we have done with our lives, but what God has done through us because we said, “Here I am.” The invitation is to live with open hands and surrendered hearts, to sign our names on the blank canvas of our lives and let God write His story through us. May we be a people who daily say, “Haneni—here I am, Lord. Use me, no matter the cost, for Your glory and the growth of Your kingdom.”

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faithfulness in the Waiting: God calls us to be faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us while we wait for Christ’s return. This means actively investing our gifts, time, and resources for His purposes, not waiting passively or hiding what He has given us out of fear or complacency. Our faithfulness is revealed in our willingness to serve and to move, even when the results are not immediate. [59:22]
• 2. Expecting and Enduring Opposition: Serving Jesus and expanding His kingdom will inevitably bring opposition from a world that resists His rule. We must not be surprised or discouraged by resistance, but instead hold fast to both truth and love, engaging the world with grace and conviction. The call is to love even those who oppose us, serving them and pointing them to Christ, knowing that rejection is often a sign of faithfulness, not failure. [61:00]
• 3. No Excuses for Unfaithfulness: When Christ returns, there will be no acceptable excuse for neglecting His call. God has given us His Word to guide us, His Spirit to empower us, and a community to encourage us. The real issue is not lack of knowledge or ability, but whether we have truly surrendered our priorities and schedules to Him, allowing His purposes to shape our lives above all else. [73:44]
• 4. God Prepares the Way and Empowers Us: Whatever God calls us to do, He has already gone before us and prepared the way. Our confidence is not in our own strength, but in His faithfulness and provision. Even when we feel afraid or inadequate, we can trust that He equips us for every good work and gives us boldness through His Spirit to accomplish what He asks. [76:59]
• 5. The Power of a Surrendered Life: The greatest impact for God’s kingdom comes from a life fully surrendered—one that says, “Here I am, Lord, whatever You want.” This surrender is not conditional or partial, but a blank check for God to use us as He wills. When we live this way, our lives become a testimony of God’s grace and power, and we can look forward to hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” [83:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [47:09] - Opening Prayer and Surrender
• [49:09] - Community and Introduction
• [51:03] - Reading the Parable of the Minas
• [52:26] - The Challenge of Patience
• [53:09] - Everyday Struggles with Patience
• [55:18] - The Disciples’ Expectation of the Kingdom
• [56:33] - Prophecy Fulfilled: Jesus on the Colt
• [58:18] - The True Mission of Jesus
• [59:22] - Expanding the Kingdom While the King is Away
• [61:00] - Serving the Body and Facing Opposition
• [69:56] - Faithfulness and Reward
• [71:20] - The Danger of Spiritual Complacency
• [73:44] - No Excuses Before God
• [76:59] - God Prepares and Empowers
• [80:06] - The Reality of Judgment
• [81:46] - The Dash: What Will Your Life Represent?
• [83:30] - Haneni: Here I Am—A Life of Surrender
• [85:47] - Signing the Blank Canvas
• [90:25] - Responding to God’s Call and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Luke 19:11-27 (ESV) – The Parable of the Minas —
> As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what did the nobleman (the king) expect his servants to do with the minas he gave them? What did the first two servants do, and how did the king respond? [51:03]
2. What reason did the third servant give for hiding his mina, and how did the king react to his excuse? [01:11:58]
3. According to the sermon, what does the word “Haneni” mean, and how was it used by people like Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah? [01:23:30]
4. What are some of the resources and responsibilities God has given to us as His servants, according to the sermon? [59:22]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus told this parable right before entering Jerusalem, when people expected the kingdom to come immediately? What does this say about God’s timing versus our expectations? [55:18]
2. The sermon says that faithfulness is not measured by comfort or ease, but by willingness to serve, sacrifice, and persevere. Why is it important to keep serving even when results aren’t immediate or when we face opposition? [01:09:56]
3. The third servant hid his mina out of fear. What kinds of fears or excuses might keep people today from using what God has given them? [01:13:44]
4. The sermon talks about living with “open hands and surrendered hearts.” What does it look like practically to say “Here I am, Lord—Haneni” in everyday life? [01:25:47]

Application Questions

1. The parable shows that each servant was given something to invest for the king. What specific gifts, time, or opportunities has God given you? Are there any you feel you’ve been “hiding” or neglecting? What would it look like to invest them for God’s kingdom this week? [59:22]
2. The sermon warns against spiritual complacency—just wrapping up what God has given us and hiding it away. Are there areas in your life where you’ve become passive or stagnant in your faith? What is one step you could take to move from passivity to action? [01:11:58]
3. Serving Jesus will bring opposition from the world. Can you think of a time when you faced resistance or rejection because of your faith? How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [01:01:00]
4. The sermon says there will be no acceptable excuse for unfaithfulness when Christ returns. What is one excuse you tend to make for not serving or stepping out in faith? How can you surrender that excuse to God this week? [01:13:44]
5. The idea of “Haneni—Here I am, Lord” is about full surrender, not just partial or conditional obedience. Is there an area of your life you haven’t fully surrendered to God? What would it look like to give God a “blank check” with your life? [01:23:30]
6. The pastor encouraged everyone to sign their name on a blank card as a symbol of surrender. If you were to do this, what would you be trusting God with? Is there something specific you sense God asking you to do, but you’ve been hesitant? [01:25:47]
7. God prepares the way and empowers us for every good work. Is there something you feel God calling you to do that feels scary or overwhelming? How can you trust that He has gone before you and will equip you? [01:16:59]