Surrendering All To Jesus

Mark 10:17–21 (ESV) — 17 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?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 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.’ ” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 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.”

#6 One thing you Lack

Theme: Surrender

I. Coming before Jesus

A. Mistake of coming on our own strength

1. When we try to come to Jesus based on our good works, or accomplishments Mark 10:17 (ESV) — 17;20 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?” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

a. His response to Jesus is incredible. Jesus=God in the flesh. He tells Jesus on the outside i’m really good! murder/adultery/steal/lying. His response is rooted in pride

b. The thought that somehow we can earn Gods favor is faulty. Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) — 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

i. This young man believed that because he was religious/a good person somehow God would just give him a stamp of approval.

ii. The problem is he didn’t see his need correctly. He didn’t need Jesus approval, he needed to surrender to Jesus!

B. Seeking eternal life Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV) — 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

1. The brought this man to is seeking Jesus is he wants eternal life. What are you seeking?

a. We can be driven by a desire for success/family pressures/trying to deal with our own rejection or self worth issues.

b. What we seek will determine the direction of our lives.

i. It will influence what Job we work/what school we go to/who we marry.

2. Wealth and success wasn’t enough for this man.

"I hope that success doesn't sour people's perception and make them believe that it's all there is to life. There's so much more out there to explore and experience beyond just achieving success." - Brad Pitt

a. Material gain will leave you wanting more. Mark 8:36–37 (NKJV) — 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

II. Surrendering To Jesus

A. Jesus Challenge to this man was to surrender the one thing that held him back! Mark 10:21 (NKJV) — 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

1. Jesus looked at this man with love, Jesus wasn’t offended by his pride. It was for this mans benefit that Jesus confronts his one thing that he lacks!

a. When Jesus does this to us its out of love! When God convicts us, or draws us closer it because he wants us to change for the better. Jesus isn’t trying to keep you from good things in fact through surrender you can have the best things!

B. What does surrender look like?

1. Allowing God to call the shots Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) — 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

a. Can you be moved by the needs around you. This man was challenged to give to the poor! Would you give up your comfort and security in order to reach others?

b. What has God spoken to you lately to surrender?

i. don’t reject Jesus because the cost may be too much! Mark 10:22 (NKJV) — 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

2. Its giving up those things that take your time/energy/ or resources from serving Jesus!

A man in our church told me Sunday that God had been helping his family, in their finances/business. His son joined soccer and he started to coach the team. Before long he was going to tournament's down in Phoenix, missing outreach, taking up his time. He said on a car ride back from the valley he had asked his wife what are we doing? Soccer was taking up his time, and he was putting his calling on the back burner. He decided to surrender and give up soccer so he could be on outreach and available to help in ministry!

Soccer wont send you to hell! but he recognized an area of his life that was un surrendered! today he is a ministry leader/involved in evangelism and a blessing to the church!

C. One area of compromise can bleed into every area of our lives! This mans love for money leads him to turn his back on Jesus and eternal life. The very thing that he was seeking!!

Charles Darwin: The renowned scientist Charles Darwin, famous for his theory of evolution, was initially studying to be a minister and had a strong Christian upbringing. However, over time, his observations and research led him to question his faith and eventually he became an agnostic.

III. Eternal Impact

A. There is eternal impact when we choose to surrender and give up that thing that is hold us back. Mark 10:21 (NKJV) — 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

1. Others are bless : Had this man surrendered how many countless people would have been impacted by his choice to give to the poor.

a. Gods blessing in your life isn’t meant to be for you alone its ment to flow into others lives as well!

2. In surrender we can gain treasure in heaven.

a. This mans life could have produced lasting fruit in Gods kingdom. He may have been able to write one of the books of the gospels. He could have been a missionary for Jesus to the world!

i. His pride and un willingness to surrender caused him to miss all God had for him!

ii. you allow the same thing to happen in your life? is there an un-surrendered area that is effecting everything in your life?

3. When we surrender we can have a closer relationship with Jesus. James 4:8 (NKJV) — 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

a. Jesus is just waiting for us to give up whats holding us back from a closer walk with Him!