Transformative Living: Surrendering Self for Abundant Life

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored two contrasting approaches to life: "Die with Zero" and "Die to Self." The first approach, inspired by a book I'm currently reading, suggests that life is an accumulation of experiences. It encourages us to maximize our experiences rather than hoard wealth for the future. This perspective aligns with the modern fear of missing out (FOMO), where we often chase after new experiences to showcase on social media. However, this approach can lead to a never-ending pursuit of satisfaction, as experiences can become addictive and ultimately unfulfilling.

In contrast, the "Die to Self" approach, inspired by the life of French theologian Francis Fenelon, invites us to surrender our will to God. This path may seem counterintuitive, but it leads to a deeper, more meaningful life. Fenelon's story illustrates how one can find glory and purpose even in diminished circumstances by focusing on internal transformation rather than external experiences. When we die to ourselves, we open ourselves to God's love and allow Him to change us from within. This transformation enables us to bring a new self to familiar experiences, finding wonder and gratitude in the ordinary.

Jesus' words in John 10:10 remind us that He came to give us life in abundance. This abundance is not found in the accumulation of experiences but in the richness of a life lived in alignment with God's will. By lowering our threshold for gratitude and contentment, we can experience the extraordinary in the ordinary. As we embrace God's love and surrender our desires, we discover a new kind of freedom and strength. Our lives become a testament to God's transformative power, and we find meaning beyond our imagination.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Pursuit of Experiences: While accumulating experiences can enrich our lives, it can also lead to a never-ending pursuit of satisfaction. True fulfillment comes not from external experiences but from internal transformation and alignment with God's will. [02:36]

2. Surrendering to God: Dying to self involves surrendering our desires and ego to God. This surrender allows us to experience a deeper, more meaningful life, as we focus on internal change rather than external circumstances. [05:26]

3. Finding Glory in the Ordinary: By bringing a new self to familiar experiences, we can find wonder and gratitude in the ordinary. This shift in perspective allows us to experience the extraordinary in everyday life. [07:56]

4. The Abundance of Life in Christ: Jesus offers us life in abundance, not through the accumulation of experiences, but through a life lived in alignment with God's will. This abundance is found in the richness of a transformed life. [04:25]

5. Embracing God's Love: As we embrace God's love and surrender our desires, we discover a new kind of freedom and strength. Our lives become a testament to God's transformative power, and we find meaning beyond our imagination. [10:31]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - Introduction to "Die with Zero"
[02:14] - The Experience-Driven Life
[03:26] - The Concept of "Die to Self"
[04:25] - Abundant Life in Christ
[05:26] - Surrendering to God's Will
[06:20] - The Life of Francis Fenelon
[07:23] - Fenelon's Wisdom on Surrender
[08:31] - Changing the Heart, Not Circumstances
[09:15] - Living with Liberty and Hope
[10:02] - Experiencing God's Love
[11:01] - Embracing Ordinary Experiences
[11:47] - Conclusion and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 10:10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Observation Questions:
1. What are the two contrasting approaches to life discussed in the sermon, and how do they differ in their focus? [03:26]
2. How does the concept of "Die with Zero" relate to the modern fear of missing out (FOMO)? [02:14]
3. What does the sermon suggest is the result of focusing solely on accumulating experiences? [02:36]
4. How does Francis Fenelon's life illustrate the "Die to Self" approach? [06:20]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret Jesus' promise of abundant life in John 10:10? What does this abundance mean in the context of the sermon? [04:25]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that surrendering to God can lead to a more meaningful life? [05:26]
3. How does the sermon describe the transformation that occurs when one "dies to self"? What are the implications of this transformation for everyday life? [07:56]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between external experiences and internal transformation? [05:11]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are you more focused on accumulating experiences or on internal transformation? How might this focus be affecting your sense of fulfillment? [02:36]
2. Consider a recent experience you had. How might approaching it with a "new self" change your perspective on it? [07:56]
3. What are some practical ways you can lower your threshold for gratitude and contentment in your daily life? [05:11]
4. How can you actively surrender your desires and ego to God this week? What specific steps can you take to align more closely with God's will? [05:26]
5. Identify an ordinary aspect of your life that you often overlook. How can you find wonder and gratitude in it, as suggested by the sermon? [11:47]
6. How can you remind yourself of God's love and transformative power in moments of doubt or struggle? [10:31]
7. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to embrace His love and surrender your desires? How can you respond to this call? [10:02]

Devotional

Day 1: The Illusion of Experience-Driven Fulfillment
In a world that often equates a meaningful life with the accumulation of experiences, it's easy to fall into the trap of seeking satisfaction through external adventures. This pursuit can become a never-ending cycle, as each new experience only temporarily fills the void, leaving us craving more. True fulfillment, however, is not found in the quantity of experiences but in the quality of our internal transformation. When we align our lives with God's will, we discover a deeper sense of purpose and contentment that transcends the fleeting nature of worldly experiences. [02:36]

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (ESV): "And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun."

Reflection: What is one experience you are currently chasing that you believe will bring you fulfillment? How might you seek deeper satisfaction through internal transformation instead?


Day 2: The Power of Surrendering to God
Surrendering to God involves letting go of our desires and ego, allowing Him to guide our lives. This act of surrender may seem counterintuitive, but it opens the door to a more meaningful existence. By focusing on internal change rather than external circumstances, we experience a profound transformation that aligns us with God's purpose. This surrender is not a loss but a gain, as it leads to a life enriched by God's love and wisdom. [05:26]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 3: Discovering Glory in the Ordinary
When we bring a transformed self to familiar experiences, we begin to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This shift in perspective allows us to find wonder and gratitude in everyday life, transforming mundane moments into opportunities for spiritual growth. By lowering our threshold for gratitude, we open our hearts to the beauty and richness of life as God intended. [07:56]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: Think of a routine part of your day that you often overlook. How can you approach it with a renewed sense of gratitude and wonder today?


Day 4: Embracing the Abundance of Life in Christ
Jesus offers us a life of abundance, not through the accumulation of experiences, but through a life lived in alignment with God's will. This abundance is characterized by a richness that comes from a transformed life, where we find joy and purpose in serving God and others. By embracing this abundant life, we discover a freedom and strength that surpasses our understanding. [04:25]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with God's will to experience the abundance of life in Christ?


Day 5: The Freedom of Embracing God's Love
As we embrace God's love and surrender our desires, we discover a new kind of freedom and strength. This freedom is not about doing whatever we want but about living a life that reflects God's transformative power. By allowing God's love to guide us, we find meaning beyond our imagination and become a testament to His grace and mercy. [10:31]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: How can you actively embrace God's love today in a way that transforms your interactions with others?

Quotes

"One way to approach life is to try to maximize my experiences, and this is very popular in our day when you think about little acronyms like FOMO, the fear of missing out. What if there's a great experience that I'm not having that somebody else could have? And then we go to places like Facebook and Instagram to show people our wonderful experiences." [00:02:08]

"It's possible to turn into an experienced junkie. It could be a pretty individualistic thing where I think my life is just about me and whatever experience I would like to have, I will have. And then there's the law of diminishing returns. You put more pressure on experiences, and they're not what you wanted them to be." [00:02:50]

"Your life is basically experience way more than your life is tissues and a beating heart. It is that flow of conscious thoughts and desires and intentions that is going on ceaselessly, for better or for worse, that point you towards goodness, love, beauty, worship, or envy, comparison. Your life is that stream of experience." [00:04:00]

"When Jesus says in John chapter 10, 'I have come that you might have life and have it with abundance,' running out your ears really, I've come that you might have experienced glorious experience. That word glory, 'doxa,' in the New Testament is a very important word. We were made to hunger for glory." [00:04:27]

"Maybe what I need is not a new experience today. Maybe I need to bring a new me to an old experience. Do you know the sun comes up every day, and the birds sing every day, and it never ceases to be a miracle, and it can move me towards wonder and praise." [00:04:51]

"When I die to myself, that is when I surrender my will, say, 'God, your will be done. What I really want to know, God, is you and your love, and I want you to change not so much my circumstances. I want you to change me.' Then, ironically, my experience of life and circumstance gets thrown in." [00:05:26]

"Francis Fenelon was born into great wealth. He was born, I think, about 1651 in France to a family of some nobility. He's a brilliant guy. He was very well educated. For a while, his career went sharply up and to the right. He ended up being hired by Louis the 14th, the Sun King, to educate Lou's heir and grandchild." [00:06:06]

"He discovered how to bring a new self that was capable of seeing and experiencing quite a lot of glory into greatly diminished experiential circumstances. And here's part of what he wrote: 'What folly to fear to be entirely God's. It is to fear to be too happy. It is to fear to love God's will in all things in every moment.'" [00:07:10]

"Let us scorn earthly things to be wholly God's. Now, lest that be misunderstood, he goes on, 'I'm not saying we should leave the Earth or earthly activities because when we are already living an honest and regulated life, we only need to change our hearts depth in loving, and we shall do nearly the same things that we were doing.'" [00:08:22]

"Instead of being devoured by our pride, never enough ego, greed, by our overbearing passions, just emotions that end up being in charge of our life, by the malicious criticism of the world, ever have somebody criticize you unfairly, we shall instead act with liberty, courage, and hope in God." [00:09:16]

"The love of God, which will make us conscious of God's love for us, see that becomes part of my experience now. My invitation is in this moment, as I'm talking with you into this camera, God is right here, and God loves me. God loves that in shared moments like this, things happen, lives can begin to change." [00:09:49]

"The ordinary experiences of my life become extraordinary when I walk through them together with God. That's a great story. Hey, if you enjoyed that video, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss any future teachings from John Ortberg here at Become New." [00:11:44]

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Transcript
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