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Total Surrender
Song: 3. Lift up Jesus he is King of kings, lift up Jesus he is Lord of lords (x2) 5. My comforter, Jesus is my comforter Introduction We live in a society and a period where it is increasingly becoming difficult for believers to surrender their lives completely to God. Living Sacrifices 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2). “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89). I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (Matthew 5:18). Talking about offering ones life as a living sacrifice, I don’t anyone could have known this better than St. Paul, he was an over zealous Pharisees, he was completely submissive to his master so much so that he went the ‘extra mile’ to obey whatever commands he received. He opposed Christians greatly wherever they were. God’s requirements So what is God’s standard for us or how does he wants us to surrender our lives to him? 1. God wants you to surrender to him to the point that you no longer attach yourself to the world and what you possess. Living Sacrifices 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2). 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17). The world has its own standard it terms of dress code, way of talking (vulgar, boastful), watching of nude programmes on TV and the Internet. Immorality! 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29). 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:3-4, 19). “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Detach yourself from every worldly possession. Do not be entangled! 29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15). 2. God wants you to surrender to him to the point that the life you are living now means nothing to you such that your utmost desire always is to know Christ more and more and experiencing the joy of salvation. In other words, you are always experiencing heaven and thereby getting more and more uncomfortable with this life. You become heavenly minded/conscious. 13 Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done." (Acts 21:13-14). “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10-11). Future Glory 18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:18-22). 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2). “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20). “So that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” (Deuteronomy 11:21). 3. God wants you to surrender to him to the point that you are not ashamed of the gospel, you are always ready and willing to identify yourself anywhere you are as a child of God. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:14-16). “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33). “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26). As a growing teen/youth, you must be convinced that you’ve chosen the right way of life – the way of the gospel. 28 And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' (Job 28:28). 4. God wants you to surrender to him to the point that you are very humble, ready to associate with people of low esteem/position and also accept being called a fool for the sake of Christ and the kingdom. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” (Romans 12:16). 19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honoured, we are dishonoured! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. ( 1 Corinthians 4:7, 9-13 ). 5. God wants you to surrender to him to the point that you continue to see and experience his invisible hands in operation in your life, I mean you take all that happen to you as part of his divine plans. You see God as being too good to do evil and too kind to be cruel. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Do everything without complaining or arguing,” (Philippians 2:14). Conclusion: Remain focus, run the race to a successful end!
God bless you Evang. John B. Oseh |