Unconditional Surrender: Transforming Lives Through God's Will
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God's will and the transformative power that comes from this act of submission. The pastor discusses the concept of brokenness before God, explaining that when individuals humble themselves and submit to God, He can create something better out of their brokenness. The pastor also highlights the importance of unconditional surrender, using historical examples to illustrate this concept. He emphasizes that our lives should be unconditionally surrendered to Jesus, with every part of us submitting to His will.
The pastor further discusses the challenge of living as a lukewarm Christian, with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world. He emphasizes that surrendering to God must be unconditional, requiring individuals to let go and have an open hand to receive everything that God has for them. The pastor invites the congregation to identify areas in their lives where they need to make room for God and to lay down whatever is hindering their relationship with Him.
The pastor also discusses two important spiritual concepts: the sovereignty of God and submission to God. He emphasizes that our lives are in God's hands, and if it is His will, we will live. On the other hand, submission to God means surrendering our lives to Him and asking Him how He wants us to live. The pastor highlights that when we are rightly connected to God's sovereignty and submit to Him, great things happen in our spiritual lives.
The pastor reflects on the life of the apostle Paul and his transformation after encountering Christ. He emphasizes that Paul's old life, with its earthly concerns and pursuits, no longer held any importance to him. Instead, Paul's life became centered on Christ, with Christ living in him. The pastor encourages the congregation to surrender unconditionally to the Lord Jesus, just as James and Jesus Himself exemplified.
Finally, the pastor emphasizes the importance of submitting to God before engaging in spiritual warfare. He explains that if one does not submit to God, they will be battling themselves or even worse, battling against God. The pastor emphasizes that being close to God and fighting against the devil does not happen automatically, but requires effort and intentionality.
Key Takeaways:
- The act of surrendering to God's will is transformative. When individuals humble themselves and submit to God, He can create something better out of their brokenness. This surrender should be unconditional, with every part of us submitting to His will ([12:45]).
- Living as a lukewarm Christian, with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world, is a challenge. Surrendering to God must be unconditional, requiring individuals to let go and have an open hand to receive everything that God has for them ([24:30]).
- The sovereignty of God and submission to God are two important spiritual concepts. Our lives are in God's hands, and if it is His will, we will live. Submission to God means surrendering our lives to Him and asking Him how He wants us to live ([36:15]).
- The life of the apostle Paul serves as an example of transformation after encountering Christ. His old life, with its earthly concerns and pursuits, no longer held any importance to him. Instead, his life became centered on Christ, with Christ living in him ([48:20]).
- Submitting to God is crucial before engaging in spiritual warfare. If one does not submit to God, they will be battling themselves or even worse, battling against God. Being close to God and fighting against the devil requires effort and intentionality ([59:10]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 4:3 [21:40]
2. James 4:1 [03:49]
3. Romans 7 [07:07]
Observation Questions:
1. What does James 4:3 say about our plans and God's will?
2. In James 4:1, what does it suggest is the root of many problems?
3. How does Romans 7 describe the internal struggle of a believer?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does James 4:3 challenge our understanding of planning and control in our lives?
2. What does James 4:1 imply about the source of conflicts and quarrels among believers?
3. How does Romans 7 help us understand the concept of 'meanness' or self-centeredness in our spiritual journey?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent plan you made. Did you consider God's will in it? How can you involve God more in your planning process?
2. Can you recall a recent conflict or quarrel you had? How might 'meanness' or self-centeredness have contributed to it? How can you address this moving forward?
3. In what areas of your life do you struggle with 'meanness' or self-centeredness? How can you surrender these areas to God?
4. How can you demonstrate unconditional surrender to God in your daily life?
5. Can you identify a part of your life that you have not fully surrendered to God? What steps can you take to surrender this area to Him?
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Surrender
When one humbles themselves and submits to God, a transformative process begins. This act of surrendering to God's will allows Him to create something better out of our brokenness. This surrender should be unconditional, with every part of us submitting to His will ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwZodteluNU&t=750s)).
Psalm 51:17 - "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you are struggling to surrender to God. What is holding you back from giving this area over to Him?
Day 2: The Challenge of Lukewarm Christianity
Living with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world is a challenge. True surrender to God must be unconditional, requiring individuals to let go and have an open hand to receive everything that God has for them ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwZodteluNU&t=1455s)).
Revelation 3:16 - "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you are living as a lukewarm Christian. What steps can you take this week to fully surrender this area to God?
Day 3: The Sovereignty of God and Submission
Our lives are in God's hands, and if it is His will, we will live. Submission to God means surrendering our lives to Him and asking Him how He wants us to live ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwZodteluNU&t=2160s)).
Job 12:10 - "In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."
Reflection: How does understanding God's sovereignty change your perspective on your current circumstances? How can you better submit to His will this week?
Day 4: Transformation Through Christ
The life of the apostle Paul serves as an example of transformation after encountering Christ. His old life, with its earthly concerns and pursuits, no longer held any importance to him. Instead, his life became centered on Christ, with Christ living in him ([48:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwZodteluNU&t=2885s)).
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: In what ways has your life changed since encountering Christ? How can you further center your life on Christ this week?
Day 5: Submission Before Spiritual Warfare
Submitting to God is crucial before engaging in spiritual warfare. If one does not submit to God, they will be battling themselves or even worse, battling against God. Being close to God and fighting against the devil requires effort and intentionality ([59:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwZodteluNU&t=3535s)).
James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent spiritual battle you faced. How did your level of submission to God impact the outcome? How can you better submit to God before engaging in spiritual warfare in the future?
Quotes
"My life now is Christ, actually now Christ lives in me... that life died, that one's not important anymore." [27:51]
"We have to be regularly submitting to God and asking God to have influence on every plan we have... let's just allow God to influence it." [29:13]
"One of the most difficult Ways to Live is as a lukewarm Christian. As a lukewarm Christian, you can't have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world." [30:53]
"You have to let go to have an open hand to receive everything that God has for you. What area in your life today do you need to make room for God in? What do you need to release to God?" [31:41]
"God wants us broken before him. If we break ourselves before him and submit to him, he can create something better." [21:40]
"The sovereignty of God says if God wills it I'll live, and the submission to God says here's my life, what kind of Life do you want it to be." [25:07]
"When we are rightly connected to the sovereignty of God with submission to him, great things start to happen in our spiritual life." [25:47]
"James chapter 4 tells us spiritual warfare begins with submission. Spiritual warfare begins with submission. Verse 7 starts out, he says, 'Submit yourselves then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.' This passage is centered around instructions for resisting the devil, spiritual warfare, and all of these things are instructions and advice for how to resist the devil. And it starts out with this instruction, submit to God." [18:13]
"The only way out of this trap is complete and total unconditional surrender to Jesus. We need to submit our lives fully to Him. God wants total submission from us, and His favor is shown to those who are submitted." #!!12:01!!#
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