JD - Surrender Your Will

Surrender Your Will

• Main Scripture: James 1:22; Galatians 2:20; Luke 9:23

• Bottom Line: Give your will to God.

Good Morning Church

We are so glad to have you join us this morning.  If this is your first time to oasis welcome we’d love to catch up with you after the service

Church Family its so good have you with us this morning

And anyone watch online welcome to the service wish we could see you in person though.

I’m so excited to be sharing this word with the family this morning so get right into it.

Story: DON’T SAY NAMES  Story about being caught in a rip/what felt like a rip  in the ocean with Riley and the gang.

If there were more people around I can imagine I would have been trying to look like I knew what I was doing and not dying.  After that I knew I wasn’t the black Michael Phelps.  Church we are on the subject Jesus the way truth and Life  This morning I’m going to be sharing on Surrendering our will to his way, truth and life.  Church we can believe in God, but the strong question for ourselves is do we live like we follow Him? Connect: Connect them to God’s word.  Tension Question: Does our walk match our talk?  This morning, I pray this message is going to encourage you and help us to reflect on our own lives and how we have surrendered our lives to Jesus. The WAY the TRUTH and LIFE  Lets Pray  Turn to the scripture  James 1:22-25 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James 1:22-25

In this passage James is writing a letter to Jewish believers. This is a very good scripture read the whole thing when you get the chance to.

But This very part of the chapter pretty blunt and makes it clear that there is a difference between believing God’s will and actually doing it!  A good example is believer who followed God is  Example: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego The story of Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego from the Bible book of Daniel 3  tells us of three Jewish boys who refused to bow down to the King of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. The three men grew wise and respected as highly appointed officials in Babylon.  Other Babylonian officials who were jealous of the Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego could get King Nebuchadnezzar to command that all people bow down to a golden statue.  When the three men refused to bow down and worship the idol and god of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into the fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.  Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego had faith that God would save them. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he saw four men walking around in the furnace unharmed -  Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, and the Son of God.  King Nebuchadnezzar brought the young men out of the flames, promoted them to a higher office, and decreed that the God of Israel be worshipped.  Consider: What does this mean for us today?  20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 — There is a clear-cut difference between who Paul was before Christ, and who he was after following him. 

Ask yourself the hard question: “Is there a noticeable difference between my life before Jesus and after I surrendered my heart?” 

Many people have prayed a prayer to follow Jesus, but nothing ever changed in their lives.

There is a stark difference between belief and obedience. 

It’s not enough for us to simply confess that Jesus is the Lord if we haven’t made him the Lord of our own life. 

That means giving our whole life to him, True salvation and blessing come when we not only give Jesus our heart but our will.

Get out of the driver’s seat of your life and place Jesus on the throne, giving him free rein to lead and direct your life! 

As the Way, truth and Life

Bottom Line: Give Our will to God.

Collide: How do we apply this in our lives?

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23

Jesus is talking to a crowd, this passage is where he predict his death

Scripture: Luke 9:23 — Jesus says it plainly: you have to give up your way.  Pick up your cross.  Means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus.

This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender.

After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-29).

Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless. Church I want to encourage us with this when it come to:

Real salvation — the true difference between being a fan of Jesus and one of his followers — is only found when we surrender our entire life to him. 

Let every decision, every thought, every action reflect that Jesus is the one in charge of your life. 

A great next step is to practice is a simple prayer every morning. Before you start your day, simply pray: “Jesus, today, I pick up my cross, and I choose to follow you. I surrender!”  I choose to lay it all down to follow your way, your truth and accept your life. 

Application: Pick up your cross every day.  Call: How do we respond to the message?  Church this month we’ve heard messages shared by our pastor on this months topic.  This message has encouraged me to think about the things I need to give up/lay down to free myself to pick my cross and follow the way, the truth and the life JESUS Before we finish up I just have a couple of question to ask ourselves this morning  Small Group Questions:

Do you ever feel like you are “faking it” as a Christian?

Do you say one thing, but your life looks different? 

How can you pick up your cross each day this week? Lets Pray Altar moment: If you are ready to start a real walk with Jesus, give him your life.

Let your surrender go beyond your words and into how you live your life.

If you make him the Lord of your life, you’ll experience the true blessing of salvation that he promises.