White Flag Life

I am so excited about this new series. Over the next four weeks we are going to be so encouraged as we see how the good news of Jesus brings Life, Joy, and Beauty in a world full of death, depression, and ugliness.

My hope is that we will all experience a new or deeper Life, Joy and Beauty over the next 4 weeks.

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Next week- White Flag Joy – Then, Life, Joy and Beauty in the Resurrection – Finally – White Flag Beauty

Today – White Flag Life.

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Two questions:

1. What is a White Flag? Surrender

2. What do I mean by Life?

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God created all creation with a destiny, purpose, a Telos.

Romans 11:36 ESV

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Paul tells us that God is the origin and destiny of all creation.

Paul tells us that God is the origin and destiny of all creation.

· The purpose of creation is to become one with God and to bring Him Glory

· The purpose of creation is to become one with God and to bring Him Glory

· The purpose of creation was there in the beginning: creation is from God, for God and oriented toward God, reaching towards its potential and completion in God.

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How about us Humans? What is our telos, purpose and destiny?

Genesis 1:26 ESV

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:31 ESV

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

· Humanity was created in the image of God and good but not complete.

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· Humanity was created in the image of God and good but not complete.

· He did not create humans as finished completed creatures- he created them with a destiny to grow towards.

· This destiny or telos is, in community, to be filled with God and to image God to all the world.

· Our destiny was to grow into the perfect image of God.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But then humanity fell from this destiny –

· Humanity chose to take their destiny or telos into their own hands – They would attempt to become like God on their own terms.

· This is what the Bible calls sin –

· The Bible suggests that we were created to become like God through a relationship with God but sin interrupted this process.

· Sin corrodes humanity at every level and makes it impossible for us to reach our destination.

· Instead of a telos towards God man turns in on himself and into a spiral away from God, the source of our destiny and life.

Romans 3:23 NLT

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

(ESV)

All humanity has sinned and have fallen short of our destiny with and in God.

All humanity has sinned and have fallen short of our destiny with God.

Instead of a movement towards God, towards our destiny man has turned into himself .

A death spiral of futility.

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Many people believe they have life because their brain works and their heart pumps blood. Yet just because your body is living does not mean you are experiencing life!

Addictions, hatred in your heart, un-forgiveness, failing marriage, depression, self-harm, uncontrollable anger, does that sound like life?

Running from relationship to relationship trying to find happiness; does that sound like life?

Fighting for control of your life only to make a mess out of it; does that sound like real life?

That is not life that is living death!

That is futility – the Biblical definition of death – living life without telos and destiny. (Give example of drawing)

Without Divine intervention humanity and all creation are doomed to futility a circle or death and purposelessness.

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Life is to be so much more-

Joy, Peace, Beauty. Life is to be an abundance of joy, Peace and beauty.

Jesus said it this way –

John 10:10 NLT

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

(NLT) The enemy came to steal, kill and destroy.

The enemy came to steal, kill and destroy.

· Addiction, hatred, fear, failed marriage, self-hate and harm, depression, uncontrollable anger.

· The spiral of futility that leaves in its wake, death, depression, corruption, shame.

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But Jesus Came to Give Us Life!

Jesus came to restore our destiny by breaking the effect of sin over our lives.

Life- Zoe A state of life that is full of healthiness, happiness, exuberance, energy, and vitality.

I have come to give you a state of life that is so full of health, happiness, energy, and vitality that you will not be able to contain it all.

I have come to restore your Telos, your destiny towards God.

Romans 8:11 NLT

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

1 Corinthians 15:49 NLT

Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.

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He broke the curse of sin over humanity (Scripture)

He broke the curse of sin over humanity (Scripture)

He reconciles us to God as Children

But He also wants to give us purpose, destiny, Abundant life, right here and now.

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3 steps to a life with Purpose, Destiny, Abundance.

Acts 2:37–39 NLT

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

1.) Repent/Surrender- The word repent means to simply stop and turn around.

You want Abundant life? - Purpose – Destiny?

· The cost is surrender!

· Stop fighting God for control over your life and surrender.

· Realize that life on your terms has become an endless futile loop with no purpose or destiny.

· We must raise our white flag and surrender to Jesus and His way of Life.

· Surrender your hate, un-forgiveness, control over your life.

· Surrender your marriage, how you raise your children, your money, politics.

Not to another man – but to God.

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2.) Baptism/ Die - Baptism is a symbol of death and re-birth.

· Not only must you surrender control of your life over to God

· You must die to your old way of doing life and be reborn to doing life on Gods terms.

· You must be willing to die to your old way of Life.

· So you can be reborn into Life towards God.

Galatians 2:20 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. 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.

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3.) Be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit/ Resurrect to a new life.

Romans 8:11–13 NLT

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Romans 8:11 NLT

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

When we surrender to Jesus, and die to you old way of living, God gives us His Spirit to empower us to live the abundant life.

Romans 8:13 NLT

For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

When we surrender to Jesus, and die to you old way of living, God gives us His Spirit to empower us to live the abundant life.

When we surrender to Jesus, and die to you old way of living, God gives us His Spirit to empower us to live the abundant life.

God knows it is impossible for you to live towards your destiny without His help.

When we surrender, He gives us His very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

The Spirit that brought life to Jesus, brought life to creation, will empower you to live towards your destiny, purpose and abundant life.

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Surrender – Die – Resurrect to a new Life.

Our great example is Jesus

He surrendered to the Father’s mission

He died to his own desires

And he rose from the dead to a Life of fulfilled Destiny, Abundance, Joy!

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God is inviting you to experience a life full of purpose, destiny, Telos; a Life so full of joy, beauty, and purpose you will not be able to contain it.

· Are you willing to surrender control over your life to Him? (All aspects of your life, ALL)

· Are you willing to die to your old way of doing life? (A complete separation from all the ways of death you brought into your own life.)

· If so, you are ready to experience the death breaking, life shaking, vision casting, purpose breathing, Telos restoring, Spirit of God.