What One Thing Is Holding You Back?

Devotional

Day 1: When Wealth Becomes the Wall Between You and Obedience

A man runs to Jesus with eager questions but walks away grieving. His story reveals how good intentions crumble when God’s call exposes our deepest attachments. Money isn’t evil, but when it claims first loyalty, it becomes a barrier to true surrender. Jesus’ piercing question cuts through religious performance to reveal the heart’s true treasure. What we cling to tells us more about our worship than our words. [41:31]

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
(Mark 10:21, ESV)

Reflection: What practical step could you take this week to test whether your possessions own you more than you own them? How would your daily choices change if Jesus asked you to liquidate your security?

Day 2: The Cost of Curated Holiness

A couple sells land but keeps a hidden percentage, crafting an illusion of generosity. Their story warns against performative faith that prioritizes reputation over reality. God sees beyond the offering plate to the motives we bury. Partial honesty is full rebellion when we value human applause over divine approval. [48:10]

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?”
(Acts 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been tempted to let others’ perceptions of your spirituality matter more than actual obedience? What secret compromise might God be inviting you to confess today?

Day 3: When the World’s Whisper Drowns Out Heaven’s Call

A once-faithful worker abandons ministry for temporal comforts. His slow drift shows how affection for earthly things grows quietly, like weeds choking a garden. Compromise begins not with dramatic rebellion but with small choices to prioritize convenience over conviction. [54:17]

For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
(2 Timothy 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What mundane choice this week—a skipped prayer time, a neglected commitment—might signal a growing attachment to comfort? How could you intentionally reorient one routine to prioritize eternal values?

Day 4: Pharaoh’s Bargain: The Danger of Conditional Surrender

A tyrant negotiates with Moses, insisting Israelites worship God while leaving livestock behind. This mirrors our tendency to offer God partial obedience while clinging to “essential” reserves. True surrender rejects bargaining chips and safety nets. [01:02:38]

Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, “Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind.”
(Exodus 10:24, ESV)

Reflection: What “flocks and herds” do you rationalize keeping control over despite God’s clear call? How might holding back practical resources limit your spiritual freedom?

Day 5: Bathwater Faith vs. Whole-Body Surrender

A childhood memory of half-cleaned bodies illustrates the futility of partial devotion. God rejects ritualistic religion that scrubs visible areas while ignoring hidden filth. True transformation requires submitting every thought, ambition, and private moment to Christ’s lordship. [35:36]

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
(James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: What unexamined corner of your life—thought life, digital habits, or private conversations—have you treated as “off limits” to God? How might addressing this area deepen your spiritual authenticity?

Sermon Summary

The blessing of being in the house of God should not be taken lightly. God has given some people the chance to come, pray, worship, and hear His word, while others planned to come but could not. The miracle of God’s grace can take a refugee who did not know English, who only knew Swahili and his mother tongue, and give him a place to stand and speak in English in the house of God.

The question is simple but serious: what is holding someone back from total surrender to God? Surrender is not only saying, “I believe in God.” Surrender says, “God, You have a right in everything of my life.” God does not want only Sunday, worship, ministry, or a lifted hand. God wants the eyes, the thoughts, the wallet, the private life, the pride, and everything else.

The rich young ruler shows that a person can be religious, young, wealthy, influential, and obedient to many commandments, yet still lack one thing. Jesus did not say that money itself was the problem. The problem was that the man could not surrender his money. The treasure held his heart. The young man ran to Jesus, but when Jesus touched the thing he loved most, he went away sorrowful. Anything that cannot be surrendered to God can eventually become a substitute for God.

Ananias and Sapphira show another thing that can hold a person back: truth and honesty. Their problem was not that they kept part of the money. Their problem was pretending they gave everything while secretly hiding part. They wanted the reputation of sacrifice without the reality of sacrifice. God sees beyond the public appearance, beyond the church, beyond the pulpit, and into the heart. A person can look surrendered at church while living differently at home.

Demas shows how love for the present world can slowly pull a person away. Demas did not depart in one morning. Prayer became less important. The word of God became less important. Church, fellowship, and God’s people became less important. The world became more important. A person can start by missing prayer, picking a shift, avoiding Bible study, and then slowly go backward until departure comes.

Pharaoh’s offer to Israel carries the same danger. Pharaoh said they could go worship, but they must leave their cows behind. The enemy may allow church attendance, worship, and even ministry, as long as something stays tied up. Total surrender means not leaving the wallet, the secret, the love of the world, or any hidden thing behind.

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Key Takeaways

1. God wants total surrender, not parts. [34:27] Surrender gives God the right to every area of life, not only the parts that are easy to bring to church. Sunday worship can become a cover for a heart that still protects money, pride, habits, or private desires. God does not ask for a public appearance of surrender but a real yielding of the whole life. [34:27]
2. Unsurrendered treasure can rule the heart. [45:33] The rich young ruler had morality, religious knowledge, and desire for eternal life, but his possessions held him. Money was not his sin simply because he had it. Money became his problem because he could not release it when Jesus asked. Anything held tighter than obedience can become another god. [45:33]
3. God sees hidden things clearly. [49:31] Ananias and Sapphira wanted others to see sacrifice, but they hid the truth from God. Public Christianity cannot replace private honesty before the Lord. God sees what is hidden from spouses, parents, church leaders, and other people. Truth before God matters more than a reputation before people. [49:31]
4. Love for the world starts slowly. [55:32] Demas did not begin as an enemy of Paul or the gospel. Prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and serving God slowly lost their importance as the world became more attractive. Spiritual departure often begins with small excuses that feel normal. A heart must check what has become more important than Christ.

## [55:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:10] - The Blessing of Being in God’s House
[28:49] - A Refugee Story and God’s Miracle
[32:30] - What Is Holding You Back?
[34:27] - Total Surrender Means Everything
[37:06] - The Rich Young Ruler
[45:33] - When Money Becomes a Substitute for God
[46:54] - Ananias and Sapphira’s Hidden Sin
[49:31] - Public Appearance and Private Truth
[53:42] - Demas and Love for the World
[56:35] - The Slow Road Away From God
[62:08] - Pharaoh Says Leave Your Cows Behind
[64:49] - Prayer for Total Surrender

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 10:17-27
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
[[37:13]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2233s) [[45:33]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2733s)

Acts 5:1-11
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
[[46:54]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2814s) [[49:31]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2971s)

2 Timothy 4:10
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
[[53:42]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3222s) [[55:32]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3332s)

Observation questions

What do Mark 10:17-27 show about the rich young ruler’s eagerness, his religious obedience, and his response when Jesus told him what he lacked? [[40:38]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2438s)
In Acts 5, what was the real sin of Ananias and Sapphira: keeping some money, or lying about what they gave? What details in Peter’s words make this clear? [[47:52]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2872s)
What did Ananias and Sapphira appear to be doing in public, and what were they hiding from God? [[48:54]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2934s)
According to 2 Timothy 4:10, why did Demas leave Paul? What small steps can lead a person from being close to ministry to slowly going away? [[55:32]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3332s)

Interpretation questions

Jesus looked at the rich young ruler and loved him before speaking about the one thing he lacked. What does this show about Jesus when He exposes something a person is holding onto? [[41:22]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2482s)
The rich young ruler’s money was not simply a possession; it had become something he could not surrender. How can a good thing—such as money, work, family, comfort, or reputation—become a substitute for God? [[45:49]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2749s)
Peter says that Ananias lied to God, not merely to people. Why is private truth before God more important than looking spiritual before other people? [[49:41]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2981s)
Demas loved “this present world.” What might it look like when the world becomes more important than prayer, God’s Word, fellowship, and obedience? [[56:35]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3395s)

Application questions

Total surrender means giving God the right to every area of life—eyes, thoughts, money, private life, pride, and plans. What area is easiest for you to give to God, and what area is hardest to surrender? [[34:36]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2076s)
If Jesus asked you to release something that gives you security or comfort, what would be most difficult to place in His hands? What would trusting Him in that area look like this week? [[45:02]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2702s)
Is there any difference between how you appear at church and how you live at home, at work, online, or when nobody is watching? What honest step could help bring those areas together before God? [[50:17]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3017s)
Are you holding onto something because you want people to think well of you—such as appearing generous, strong, holy, or successful? How can you choose truth instead of protecting an image? [[48:54]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=2934s)
Has prayer, Scripture, fellowship, or serving God slowly become less important in your life? What small excuse or habit may be pulling your heart away, and what is one practical way to turn back? [[56:33]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3393s)
Pharaoh was willing to let Israel worship as long as something remained behind. Is there an area where you are willing to worship God but still want to keep control—your wallet, a hidden habit, a relationship, or your future? [[01:02:42]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3762s)
What is one specific thing you sense God inviting you to surrender now? What support, honesty, or change would help you follow through? [[01:05:47]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqrb2IxiL64&t=3947s)

Sermon Clips

40s

“They're lying to the public. They're lying to the Peter. They're lying to the apostles. But in public, they look they look very well. They look honesty. They look same the truth. But the problem was not a possession. The problem was truth and honesty. They were not honesty before God. They wanted reputation of sacrifice without reality of of sacrifice. They wanted people think they were completely surrender.”

66s

“There is people who surrender their Sunday. I can go to church on Sunday, but not my money. I can surrender my Sunday. I can go to church on Sunday, I'm not taking my wallet to church. Hallelujah. There's people who surrender their worship. They worship well. They left their hands, but you can see their relationship with God. It's missing. There are people who surrender their their their their their ministry, but not surrender their pride. My question to you, what's one things you need to surrender today?”

80s

“You know, surrender is not simply saying I believe in God, but surrender means God, you have a right in everything of my life. God, you have everything. Have my eyes. You have my thought. You have everything, not a part of your life. Hallelujah. You know, I remember when I was a child, sometimes we go in the water. Maybe we we go to school in the morning early. You know, you try to fake your teacher. You did some water like, I don't know where you go to school, where you went to school. But I remember when I went to school back in Congo, you know, in every morning you go online, they have to check if you did like a you know, you fake your teacher. You just do one part he can see and I say oh but the entire body is not cleaned. You fake. So my my message this morning is, are you completely surrendered to God? Are you total surrendered to God?”

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