Total Surrender: Rejecting Compromise for God's Blessings
Devotional
Day 1: Wholehearted Surrender to God
God calls us to a life of complete surrender, where He is Lord over every aspect of our lives. This means moving beyond mere church attendance and embracing a life fully devoted to Him, free from worldly compromises. True fulfillment and joy are found in this total commitment to God, as we allow Him to guide and transform us. When we resist the temptation to compromise, we open ourselves to the fullness of His blessings and the richness of a life lived for Jesus. [02:30]
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, 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: Stability Through Single-Minded Devotion
Many struggle with living close to the world while trying to maintain a relationship with Jesus, leading to instability and a divided heart. A focused heart, fully committed to God, brings stability and peace. By rejecting the temptation to compromise and choosing to live wholeheartedly for God, we find the strength and clarity to navigate life's challenges. This single-minded devotion allows us to experience the peace and stability that come from a life centered on Christ. [10:18]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself trying to balance your faith with worldly desires? How can you take a step today towards a more single-minded devotion to God?
Day 3: Leading Our Families in Faith
Just as we ensure our children eat healthily for physical strength, we must guide them spiritually for their eternal well-being. As parents, it is our responsibility to lead our families in faith, nurturing their relationship with God and instilling practices that develop a strong spiritual foundation. By prioritizing their spiritual growth, we help them build a lasting relationship with God that will sustain them throughout their lives. [23:21]
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can lead your family in faith this week? How can you incorporate spiritual practices into your daily family routine?
Day 4: Trusting God with Our Resources
God challenges us to trust Him with our possessions, promising abundant blessings when we prioritize Him and His kingdom. This is the only area where God invites us to test Him, assuring us of His provision. By trusting God with our resources, we demonstrate our faith in His ability to provide for our needs and experience the joy of His abundant blessings. [31:38]
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your finances or resources where you struggle to trust God? How can you take a step today to prioritize Him in this area?
Day 5: Embracing Full Blessings Through Commitment
Compromise keeps us from experiencing the full blessings God desires for us. By fully committing to Him, we open ourselves to His love and grace, discovering the richness of a life lived for Jesus. Rejecting compromise allows us to experience the fullness of God's blessings and the joy of a life fully devoted to Him. [33:42]
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to compromise? How can you take a step today towards embracing the full blessings God has for you by committing fully to Him?
Sermon Summary
In our journey through Exodus chapters 7 through 9, we delve into the theme of compromise and the call for absolute surrender to God. As we explore the narrative of Pharaoh and the Israelites, we see Pharaoh as a representation of Satan, offering compromises to prevent a full commitment to God. When we decide to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, Satan often tempts us with compromises to keep us tethered to the world. God, however, desires complete surrender, where He is Lord over all aspects of our lives.
Pharaoh's first compromise was to allow the Israelites to worship God but remain in Egypt, symbolizing a life where one can attend church but still live according to worldly desires. This reflects the struggle many face in balancing their faith with worldly pleasures. The second compromise was to not go too far, suggesting a superficial commitment to God. The world often views deep devotion to God as fanaticism, yet true joy and fulfillment come from a wholehearted relationship with Him.
The third compromise involved leaving the children behind, highlighting the importance of leading our families in faith. Just as we ensure our children eat healthily for physical strength, we must guide them spiritually for eternal well-being. The final compromise was to leave possessions behind, challenging us to trust God with our resources. God promises to provide abundantly when we prioritize Him and His kingdom.
In these last days, we are called to reject compromise and live fully for Jesus. By laying everything on the altar, we open ourselves to the full blessings and delights God desires to bestow upon us. Let us respond to the Spirit's call for total surrender, experiencing the richness of God's love and grace.
Key Takeaways
1. Wholehearted Commitment: God desires a complete surrender of our lives, where He is Lord over all. This means not just attending church but living a life fully devoted to Him, free from worldly compromises. True fulfillment comes from this total commitment. [02:30]
2. Balancing Faith and Worldliness: Many struggle with living close to the world while trying to maintain a relationship with Jesus. This double-mindedness leads to instability. A focused heart, fully committed to God, brings stability and peace. [10:18]
3. Leading Our Families in Faith: Just as we ensure our children eat healthily, we must guide them spiritually. Their eternal well-being is paramount, and as parents, we should lead them into practices that develop a strong relationship with God. [23:21]
4. Trusting God with Our Resources: God challenges us to trust Him with our possessions, promising abundant blessings when we prioritize Him. This is the only area where God invites us to test Him, assuring us of His provision. [31:38]
5. Rejecting Compromise for Full Blessings: Compromise keeps us from experiencing the full blessings God desires for us. By fully committing to Him, we open ourselves to His love and grace, discovering the richness of a life lived for Jesus. [33:42] ** [33:42]
What was Pharaoh's first compromise to Moses and Aaron, and what did it symbolize in terms of faith and worldliness? [04:14]
How does the sermon describe the behavior of fans at a football game compared to expressions of faith in church? What point is being made with this comparison? [06:14]
What was Pharaoh's third compromise regarding the Israelites' children, and what does this reveal about the importance of leading families in faith? [19:21]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of trusting God with our possessions, and how does this relate to the promises in Malachi 3:10? [30:32]
---
Interpretation Questions:
How does the sermon interpret Pharaoh's compromises as a representation of Satan's tactics to prevent full commitment to God? [03:30]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that a double-minded approach to faith leads to instability, and how does this relate to James 1:8? [10:18]
How does the sermon emphasize the importance of leading children in faith, and what are the potential consequences of neglecting this responsibility? [23:21]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between prioritizing God and experiencing His blessings, as illustrated in Malachi 3:10? [31:38]
---
Application Questions:
Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel tempted to compromise your faith for worldly desires? How can you address these temptations this week? [04:51]
Consider your expressions of faith: Are you hesitant to express your devotion to God openly due to fear of being labeled a fanatic? How can you overcome this fear? [06:14]
Think about your family: How are you currently leading your family in faith? What specific steps can you take to strengthen your family's spiritual journey? [23:21]
Evaluate your resources: Are you trusting God with your possessions and finances? What changes can you make to prioritize God's kingdom in your financial decisions? [30:32]
Examine your priorities: Are there areas in your life where you have placed worldly pursuits above your relationship with God? How can you realign your priorities to seek God's kingdom first? [29:45]
Reflect on your commitment: What is holding you back from fully surrendering to God? Identify one specific area of your life where you can make a deeper commitment to Him this week. [32:29]
Consider the blessings of full surrender: How have you experienced God's love and grace when you have fully committed to Him in the past? How can this encourage you to reject compromise in the future? [33:42]
Sermon Clips
When you are determined to follow the Lord, you've decided that you're going to serve Jesus Christ, Satan begins to offer to you a series of compromises to keep you from a wholehearted commitment unto God. But God does require of us absolute surrender, unconditional. [00:01:30]
A wholehearted complete surrender of our will and of Our Lives to his. Someone has said that he is Lord Over All, or he is Lord not at all. He wants to be the Lord over your whole life, and the moment you decide to make that kind of a commitment to him, Satan comes along and begins to offer a series of compromises. [00:02:39]
If you're going to insist on following the Lord, go ahead, but don't give up the world. You can go to church on Sunday, but live the rest of the week like you want to live. Don't get carried away with this religion bit. You don't want to become a fanatic. [00:04:39]
James tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. David prayed unite my heart to Fear Thy Name. Lord I don't want a divided heart, I want my commitment to be complete. Don't want to keep one foot in the row boat and one foot on the dock. [00:10:18]
There are many people who have too much of the world to really be happy in Jesus, and yet they have too much of Jesus to really be happy in the world, and they are the most miserable lot of all. We used to sing I want more of Jesus, more and more and more. [00:12:57]
To have a strong spiritual body is more important than having a strong physical body, and as a parent, we need to lead our children into those practices that will develop a strong spiritual relationship with God because that is vital and that is important. [00:24:40]
Satan so often suggests that you cannot afford to give God that which is is attend of your increase. The truth of the matter is you can't afford not to give to God that which is is. When the children of Israel had returned from the Babylonian captivity. [00:31:38]
Jesus said don't worry about what you're going to eat or what you're going to drink or what you're going to wear. These are the things that the Heathen worry about, but if you'll just seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness all of these things will be added to you. [00:29:19]
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in my house and prove me now in this saith the Lord of hosts, see if I will not open to you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you will not find room enough to contain it. [00:30:32]
The compromise keeps you from the full blessings that God desires to bestow upon you, and it's not until I put myself fully wholly committed that I begin to realize God's love and grace as he bestows upon me those blessings he's been Desiring to give to me. [00:33:42]
God when he promised His blessings to the children of Israel, conditioned upon their complete commitment to him, said I'll bless you when you go out I'll bless you when you come in I'll bless you when you stand up I'll bless you when you sit down God wants to bless you. [00:36:06]
Make that full commitment of your life, you'll never regret it. The Lord bless thee and keep thee, the Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give me peace. [00:36:39]