Lesson 24 YES

Principle 8: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.

“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” (Matthew 5:10)

Step 12: Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

Prayer

Illustration of welcoming Bobby into my house

the entire house cost this much, but you only get these rooms

Jesus wants your hole heart

Jesus’ death deserves sold-old obedience

Jesus didn’t come to celebrate sin and affirm lifestyles, He came to save souls and transform lives. There is no version of Christianity that permits you to continue sinning just of God’s love for you. TRUE LOVE INSPIRES TRUE OBEDIENCE. 2x

counterfeit Christianity leads to relapse

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

emphasis bodies being holy being expected

emphasis not being conformed to this world (culture)

emphasis renewing of your mind

PERFECT WILL OF GOD

The Y is Principle 8 itself: YIELD myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.

To truly practice this principle, we must give God the latitude He needs to use us as He sees fit. We do that by presenting everything we have —our time, talents, and treasures —to Him. We hold loosely all that we call our own, recognizing that all of it comes from His hand. When we have yielded to Him, God can use us as His instruments to carry the message to others in word and action.

Galatians 6:1 –2 (TLB) tells us: “If a Christian is overcome by some sin,... humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that the next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command.”

People take your example far more seriously than they take your advice.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

That leads us to the E in yes: EXAMPLE is what is important!

illustration of jacket

dead in sin

alive in Christ

what dead grave clothes are you still wearing

what we watch

what we listen to

FYI most country music doesn’t honor God

What we say

Our relationships

emphasis on Natalie and I and what I want to do

what we do when no one is around

Your walk needs to match your talk. We all know that talk is cheap, because the supply always exceeds the demand.

If you want someone to see what Christ will do for them, let them see what Christ has done for you.

Here is a question to ask yourself when you get to this principle: Does my lifestyle reflect what I believe? In other words, does it show others the pat­terns of the world —selfishness, pride, and lust —or does it reflect the love, humility, and service of Jesus Christ?

“Arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, GNT).

The last letter in yes is S: SERVE others as Jesus Christ did.

When you have reached Principle 8, you are ready to pick up the “Lord’s towel,” the one with which He washed the disciples’ feet in the upper room the night before He was crucified.

Jesus said, “And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you” (John 13:14 –15, TLB).

You don’t all have to give your testimonies to three hundred people to do service. All service ranks the same with God. You can say “y-e-s” to Principle 8 in many ways!

Wash someone’s feet

Ways in which you can serve.

1 Be an accountability partner. Find someone in your small group who agrees to encourage and support you as you work through the principles. You agree to do the same for that person. You hold one another accountable for working an honest program.

2 Be a sponsor. Sponsors are people who have worked the steps. Their job is to guide newcomers on their journey through the steps, to give a gentle nudge when they are procrastinating or to slow them down when they are rushing through a step. Sponsors do so by sharing their personal journey on their road to recovery.

3 Become a greeter. Greeters get to Celebrate Recovery at 6:45 p.m. They welcome and provide directions for newcomers. They provide the newcomer with the important first impression of Celebrate Recovery!

4 Sandy has an entire list of ways you can serve. Please see her after the service.

invitation

Are you guilty of welcoming Jesus in but making Him sit on the couch or in the corner?

Yield yourself to Jesus!