Surrender: Let Go and Let God Work
Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 (GWT) *** *** *** *** Surrendering your life means: · Following God’s lead without knowing where he’s sending you; · Waiting for God’s timing without knowing when it will come; · Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide; · Trusting God’s purpose without understanding the circumstances. You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God …
Worship: The Barrier of Pride
It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NLT) *** *** *** *** Life is a struggle, but what most people don’t realize is that our struggle, like Jacob’s in Genesis 32:22-32, is really with God! We want to be God, and there’s no way we’re going to win that struggle, but we try anyway. A.W. Tozer said, “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven’t yet come to the end of themselves. …
Worship: Offering Yourself to God
So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Romans 12:1-2 (TEV) *** *** *** *** Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about. This act of personal surrender is called many things: consecration, making Jesus Lord, taking up your cross, dying to self, yielding to the Spirit. What matters is that you do it, not what you call it. God wants your life, all of …
Surrender Is the Heart of Worship
“Give yourselves to God … surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.” Romans 6:13 (TEV) *** *** *** *** The heart of worship is surrender. Surrender is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as the word submission. It implies losing, and no one wants to be a loser. Surrender evokes the unpleasant images of admitting defeat in battle, forfeiting a game, or yielding to a stronger opponent. The word is almost always used in a negative context. Captured criminals surrender to the authorities. In our competitive world we’re taught …
Living in Light of Eternity
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) *** *** *** *** Healthy families have family pride; members are not ashamed to be recognized as a part of the family. Sadly, I’ve met many believers who’ve never publicly identified themselves as Jesus commanded – by being baptized. Baptism is not some optional ritual to be delayed or postponed. It signifies your inclusion in God’s family. It publicly announces to …
Our Inheritance: Grace, Patience, Wisdom, and Power
God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 1 Peter 1:4 (NLT) *** *** *** *** The New Testament gives great emphasis to our rich “inheritance.” As children in God’s family we get to share in the family fortune, that everything God has belongs to us (Galatians 4:7). The apostle Paul adds, “I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people” (Ephesians 1:18 NLT). What benefits do we inherit? As …
Fellowship: God’s Family Lasts Forever
Since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you. Galatians 4:7 (NLT) *** *** *** *** Your spiritual family is even more important than your physical family because it will last forever. Our families on earth are wonderful gifts from God, but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably, by death. The apostle Paul says, “When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them …
Fellowship: Formed for God’s Family
See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! 1 John 3:1 (NLT) *** *** *** *** You were formed for God’s family. “God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory…” (Hebrews 2:10 NCV). God wants a family, and he created you to be a part of it. This is one of God’s purposes for your life, which he planned before you were born. The entire Bible …
What Does God Know about You? (Part 3)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) *** *** *** *** Over the last two days we have looked at God’s omniscience – that he knows everything, specifically everything about you and your life. We have been examining God’s presence in your life by breaking it down into five areas. Today we’ll look at the final two. God knows your fears. God knows everything that gets you stressed out. For instance, many of us today …
What Does God Know about You? (Part 2)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) *** *** *** *** God knows everything about your faults and failures, and your feelings and frustrations, and he also knows what your tomorrow holds. God knows your future. We’re all interested in the future. It’s interesting to me the things people will use to try to figure out what’s going to happen next: astrology, horoscopes, reading tea leaves, consulting with people, bio-rhythms. But they’re going to the …
