The Surrendered Life (Resurrection Living)
Good morning. So often this month is resurrection living and I believe the Lord wants me to start by sharing a word, she's giving me for at least one person. So I can just stop by reading from Song of Solomon, Chapter 2, verses 11 to 12. A, and I'm reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Song of Solomon 2:11 to 12 a.m. now. The winter is past, the rain has ended and gone away the blossoms and pay in the countryside. The time of singing has come This is for someone who feels like that. Just going through the motions day off today, doing what needs to be done, but the sense of purpose is really limited. That's a lack of vision for the future. I believe the Lord is saying this is a new season. The winter is past, the rain has ended and going away. There is newness of life in your life. You will start to see beauty again. it feels like your senses about being retrained to notice life in different ways and around you, if your outlook on life is being expanded and you'll see in Greater Technicolor, What's the rain represents a difficult season in your life. It's actually necessary for the blossoms to repair.
It's necessary to New Beginnings.
The time of singing has come. Joy is your potion. Take it by faith. Singing is something that you can choose today and the Lord wants to encourage you to keep singing to him, because he loves to hear you saying, even if that's all it makes you laugh, cuz you're not exactly gifted in that department. But he loves to hear you and I choose to sing to him whether you feel like it or not, you'll find new songs rising up in your heart. I also need to say that the word translated singing here, also means pruning Both a true for you. It's a time for singing and also for preening. There are elements in your life and thinking the Thrivent no longer needed or useful. A heavenly father is the gardener as it says in John 15. Surrender to his loving training. Trust him even when it feels strange, letting go of things, which you hold onto for so long. You making room for newness of life for blossoms?
Moving on, like I said, the theme this month is Resurrection Life. On the top of the message this morning is the surrendered life. Resurrection living means that someone or something has to die for that to be a resurrection. Because Jesus died. He sacrificed his life, to take the punishment for our sin, because Jesus died and rose. Again, we can live We can really live. If we all accept what Jesus did on our behalf, repent of everything, we've done wrong and surrender, our hearts and lives to go. We can live not just a ton of me with God in heaven, but with God on Earth as he comes to live inside Us by his holy spirit.
For us. The sacrifice is that of all self-will. The surrendered life paves the way to live in the power of the Resurrection. Life in abundance to the full to the overflows as it says, in John 10:10. That's what Jesus came to give us. I came across a lovely children's book recently and that she going to read it in its entirety. It's The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell hunt. The are you sitting comfortably? Now up again.
Once Upon a mountain top three little trees, stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first Apple Tree looked up at the stars twinkling, like diamonds above him. I want to hold treasure, he said I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world. The second district Ray looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. I want to be a strong sailing ship. He said, I want to travel Mighty Waters and carry powerful Kings. I will be the strongest shape in the world. The Fantastic Four trailer look down into the valley below. But busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave this Mountaintop until she said, I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they will raise their eyes to heaven. And thank God. I will be the tallest tree in the world. Just passed the rains came, the Sun Sean and the little trees grew toll. One day 3, woodcutters climb the mountains. The best wood cutter look to the first day and said, this tree is beautiful. It's perfect to me with a sweep of his acts. The first trypho, Now, I should be made into a beautiful chest for the first tree. I shall hold. Wonderful treasure. The second would cover look to the second tree and said, this tree is strong. It's perfect to me with a sweep of his acts. The second trypho Now, I should be made into a beautiful chest for the first tree. I shall hold. Wonderful treasure.
Give me the second day I hope you had strong s*** fit for Kings. I shall sail Mighty Waters. The third tree fell to Halt sink. When the Lost Woodcutter, looked her way. She stood straight and tall, and pointed, bravely to heaven. But The Woodcutter never even looked up. Any kind of tree will do for me, he must have with a sweep of his acts, the Third trypho. The first tree rejoiced when the woodcuts have brought him to a cotton gin shop, but the busy Carpenter, I was not thinking about Treasure Chest instead, he Fashions the tree into a seat box for animals. The second tree smiled when The Woodcutter took him to a shipyard but night, Mighty sailing ships, were being made that day. Instead the one strong tree with Hamid and sold into a simple fishing boat every day, he brought in loads of dead, smelly fish. The substrate was confused when the wood cutter cutter into strong beans and left her in the lumberyard. all I ever wanted to do, was stay on the top of the mountain, I'm praying to God, she thought Many, many days and nights, past the Three Trees, then he forgot that dreams. But one night golden star light pulled over the first tree at the young woman, placed her newborn baby in the feed box. I wish I could make a cradle for him. Haha, spend Whispers. the mother squeezed his hand and smiled as a star like Shawn on the smooth instead you would
This major is beautiful. She said, Suck me. The first he knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
Fun evening, attire traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The chocolate fantasy. It's a second tree quietly, sailed out into the lake. A storm arrives. The nickel tree shuttered. He knew he did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awake and he stood up stretched out his hand and said, Peace. The storm stopped as quickly as it began. On Sunday, the second chain you, he was carrying the king of Heaven and Earth.
One Friday morning, the 3rd tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the Forgotten woodpile. she flinched as she carried through a hotspot, if your she was carried through a hostage Are In Crowd, She shudders when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and Ash and crew. But on this Sunday morning, When the sunrise.
Slavs, have changed everything.
It took like the first to your beautiful. The second restrung. And every time people thought at that tree, they would think of God. Sorry.
Jeremiah 29 11 to 13 is a well-known passage. And I'm going to start with this reading from the NIV to Jeremiah 29. 11 to 13. I know the plans I have for you.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm. Ye. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
When something inside of you, dreams of significance like the three trees or whether the concept is alien fee goes, well, for all of us. I read this recently. Significance is a god-given desire. Leaving to be famous. Is it counterfeit? Significance is a god-given desire. We've been designed to make a difference in while we're here on Earth and we want to glorify God in the process. Like the Three Trees. How we did it? And why we do it the life. We imagine for ourselves when we live a life, surrender to God. We touched on something, I can significance. In the online, Bible study on Tuesday. It was a teaching by a guy called Erin McManus. He referred to Greatness. He said, greatness is what you do for others.
People hesitate to speak of greatness with regard to themselves because of concerns about arrogance, but it depends on your definition of greatness. Humility and greatness can go hand-in-hand. We only have to look at Jesus all 7K.
It's recorded in Luke 22, but the disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. That's look at that. Luke 22 verses 24 to 26. I'm just reading excerpts from it to illustrate the point to Luke 22:24 226. A dispute arose among them as to, which of them was considered to be the greatest. Jesus said to them, the greatest among you should be, like, the youngest, on the one who rules, like, the one who serves, It's worth noting that Jesus has no issue with the disciples desires to Greatness it just needed reshaping.
Whoever wants to be great. Should say about others? That can be great this in a moment. A 72. I would like to suggest that the selflessness necessary for True servant hood is one aspect of the surrendered life.
A friend has a great book called CEO of golden by Allen, Levi. I don't know if any of you know it, it's Christian fiction beautifully written and as it says in the synopsis, it's about the power of creative generosity and the invisible threads of kindness, that bind us to one another 1.0 is talking to someone and says I would guess that you've read. Miss the words with the 18th century English poet, he wants right? That the best potion of a good person's life is the little nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love. I think that's such a lovely illustration of true 720's. Like I said, some of us have inside of us, those dreams of significance like the Three Trees, but I'm also aware that some people have never had real dreams for themselves, but different reasons on the school to significance is an alien concept.
repulsions in his book, what they didn't teach me in Sunday school says this So often we feel like we have so little to offer. It was Abraham Lincoln who said God, loves Ordinary People. He made so many of them.
And the story of the Bible is of god using those who so often felt they had little to give to change the world. As it says, in 1 Corinthians 10 verses 27 to 29 but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame. The wise God, chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. So that no one may boast before him.
The three trees have that drains years past the rains came, the Sun Sean and the little trees for your towel. Everyone or at least nice people seem to have a season or Seasons that looking back. We feel can simply be described as his toast when seemingly nothing of great consequence happens. From where we are to our destiny to fulfilling God's plans and purposes for our lives. This a journey. We may have dreams in seafoam but don't materialize as or when we anticipated reasons. That's the waiting the persevering where we can choose to do what we doing with excellence and the right attitude. While Scott proposes. It can be hard to keep going but that's it says in Philippians 4:13 Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ. Who strengthens me? The living Bible puts it this way. I can do everything God asks me, I can do everything goes. Well, I got off me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. If we mess up and admit it to God, God is faithful to forgive us. As it says, in 1, John 1, verse 9, then we gets up and carry on. And God continues to grow us like the trees ready to fulfill the plans and purposes for his plans and purposes for us. Because it's got none of this time is wasted. I would like cheese say that we can be fulfilling God's plans and purposes for us on the journey to a specific goal. God is very interested in process, not just the end results.
J-jon the English evangelist, inauthor Heroes of the faith, which is a great book of short, biographies of people from different races, cultures and generations, who all accomplished great things for God. I've heard of those I've never heard of before. As far as I can tell all of them. These periods of I'm going to call them preparation and development. These years before the events or activities for which they became known, Even Jesus. Very little is written about him off his early childhood apart from one incident when he was twelve, until he began his ministry at the age of about Thursday. They sign it yet. Is a summarized in Luke 2:52, Luke 2:52, and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. If Jesus needed to grow in favor with God and man, because he was living here as a human, we we ready? Do
so clearly that which has been seemingly, nothing of great, consequence happens with fruitful intense, preparation and development. that can be really helpful for us to remember if we already won't be close to her in one of those seasons, I would like to suggest that these seasons are, right? She foundational to the surrendered life. Howick rx's develop how we mature. Can be significant but not readily measurable by anyone other than the Lord from whom nothing is hidden and to some degree by those closest to us. We know it's always the best at self-assessment, are we? We may look at ourselves through rose-colored glasses and some ways not truly recognizing or maybe it know they're changing aspects of our nature, which are not yet fully submitted to the Holy Spirit. Eat clay. We can be openly critical of myself. They can be a bit like weeding in the garden but we focus on other weeds that still need removing and how much waiting has already been done with our cooperation by a father who is the god? Now it's Jesus says in John 15. The trace is probably a mixture of the tay, but the simplest approach is to praise God. That he's changing us from one degree of Glory to another as it says, in 2 Corinthians 3:18 and pray that you'll help us to address any issues as he points them out to us. And also, I think it
Like the Three Trees, often knows the ways, but often he is Paul's or at least a long time from our perspective. Before we start moving towards fulfilling the dream so-called places in our hearts, We may have big dreams and also very smaller ones which may or may not be related to the bigger ones. Jeremiah 29 11 to 13 is a well-known passage about God's plans and purposes for us, but it's worth noting what it says immediately. Before that, I'm abbreviation to the straight my point been Jeremiah 29 verse 10. It says this is what the Lord says when seventy years or completed. I will come to you and Phillips. Fulfill my good promise ta That probably felt like a long time, but God had a purpose, and not fulfilling his promise straight away. Waiting for God, to fulfill his promises to us, is not easy, and we need to consider how to manage that time. Well, what helps us to persevere and not give up. That's a question for table talk that these are just a few thoughts. We need to trust in God's character which is love as it says in John. 3:16, for example, for God, so loved the world, the snow, but it's clear, you did not forgot. So loved the world that he gave his one and only son. That whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. We need to trust in God's character, which is love. We need to trust in God's wisdom, which is perfect as I-55. This is 8 to 9, for example, says so, my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways. My ways since I'm declares the Lord, as a Heavens are higher than the earth, some of my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts. Then you'll sores
We need to trust in God's word as it says. For example a nice I-55 us 11. So is my words that goes out for my mouth, it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. We need to decide to make God's word the last word in our lives and circumstances.
Many, many days and nights past and the three trees nearly forgot that dreams. Broadly speaking. The dream said the first two trees represent, worldly success being the most beautiful treasure chest in the wells for repression stones and the strongest shape in the world. Caring, powerful Kings. There are many different definitions of success but one, I like is to fulfill your god-given potential destiny. It doesn't have to be distinct from worldly success but it's about fulfilling your potential and Destiny and the attitude of the hall that goes with it. We may have dreams for ourselves when we were younger and sometimes, like the trees Lord takes the essence of them, and makes them greater, and they're quite different to how we imagined them for ourselves.
What is this is just a small example that I grew up in Darby about two and a half miles north of here. And in my twenties, I had a desire to work in Windsor. I couldn't tell you why and had no inkling in what capacity I want you to work. Applying for standard graduate job, but the first round of interviews involved, answering a multiple-choice questionnaire $90. He wants it a minimum number of questions, but they didn't tell you what the minimum number was until after the time was up. And I fell about first, however, a few years later after I qualified as a social worker, I went to work for the Royal Borough of Windsor maidenhead and I was raised in Windsor.
I need help me remember things about on and off of my time that I have got to give me that desire to work in Windsor. And it also helped me when things were tough. We can't expect living a god-given dream to always be easy. What matters is that? We live it in him with him and for him.
Sometimes God out of our prayers are going out, Destiny and ways. We didn't expect them ways, the two begun great to unharden and we would have chosen or full tough for ourselves. But he sees the bigger picture we don't. We can trust in his unfailing love. Like it says, in Psalm 13 verse five, it's a choice. We can choose to make that decision. I trust in your unfailing love if I let say that together I trust in your unfailing love.
The Lost trees dream was to serve God, but her dream was much smaller than God's dream for her, as can be the case for us. I know if given the six on poker fall but it's rather than I once knew someone who is a primary school teacher and really have pee in her job. She cried when she found out that she's have to teach the reception costs, the littlest ones she was so upset. This is why the sacrifice of self will comes in the surrendered life. She did it because she prayed, I felt God wanted her to do it and she loved it. God knows us better than we know ourselves. I realize it doesn't always turn out like that, but it's the old some guys trust and Obey because there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey,
In my opinion, The Three Trees is such a beautiful story and it one level, it's illustrates the surrendered life. As it says, in Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in May. The life. I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in May one way of explaining that is to look at the second part of the vast. In the Amplified version of the Bible. Just to explain the Amplified Bible aims to reveal the full, meaning of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic text by expanding upon Key West? The life. I now live in the body, I live by faith by a daring to relying on an completely trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up to me. I'm aware. This is the lingering service alert should spend a little time before the Lord listening to him. Here are a few stores just to take, hold of whatever, just take hold of whatever resonates with you. If you search your heart, what dreams have you? Perhaps push deep town because of the busyness of life because of circumstances or for whatever reason.
Take courage enough of these up to the Lord.
Perhaps you are waiting on the Lord to find out what dreams he has for you?
Maybe the Lord's already been speaking to you about something.
Let's pray and take time to offer up to the Lord. Whatever's on a house. I'm not supposed to listen to him. It's God, gives you a word for someone who lies on your heart to pray for. Someone feel free to move around if it's okay because of where you're sitting the maybe stand at the back and pray, but I've missed the moment. Let's pray.
Lord, I Thank you that you have plans and purposes for each one of us. We offer up to you, any dreams that we've set aside? Open up our hearts to over. You want to say to us. Holy Spirit. We welcome. Ye lead and guide us in this time. Thank you Lord.
