SURRENDER

Week #7 – Surrender
Message by Tim Perkins6/7/2020

Is it possible that God can do MORE with my surrender than I can with my control?

(Hebrews 12:2-3 MSG) Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

(Luke 23:44-46 NIV) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Finally your day to God, and.

The Worry Trap:

(Psalm 31:4-5 NIV) Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

(Matthew 6:24-30 NLT) “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

Letting Go:

(Philippians 4:6-7 NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Let worry be your alarm clock reminding you it’s time to pray!

1. Get to . (Matthew 6:31-32)

2. Put in every area of your life. (Matthew 6:33)

3. Live at a time. (Matthew 6:34)

“Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” Leo Buscaglia

“To live through a bad day—indeed, to conclude it—is to place it into the hands of God and leave it there.” Jack Hayford

Discussion Guide

Think About it…

• As we concluded this series, we learned another way to live through a bad day by observing how Jesus endured His worst day. After hours of suffering on the cross, Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” By making this declaration as His worst day drew to an end, Jesus showed us how to trust God, surrender our issues to Him, and then completely let them go. We often get trapped by worry when we try to control our lives instead of trusting God, but the truth is, the struggles in our lives can’t be our problem and God’s problem at the same time. As we get to know God personally, put Him first in every area of our lives, and learn to live one day at a time, we can break free from the worry that makes us feel trapped. Author and Pastor Jack Hayford, puts it this way: “To live through a bad day – indeed, to conclude it – is to place it in the hands of God and leave it there.”

Talk about it…

• Discuss the importance of trusting God and completely surrendering our problems to Him. In difficult situations, how is trusting yourself rather than trusting God like serving two masters?
• Think of the things in your life that you are trying to control. How is this affecting the way you think, act, and speak? Think about a time when you surrendered a problem to God, and share how it impacted you emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
• Discuss what it means to “live one day at a time.” How can focusing on today lessen the worry and stress in your life?
• Have you ever experienced the reality of this statement? If so, please share. God can do more with your surrender than you can with your control.
  • Do you agree with that statement? Why do you suppose it’s so hard to surrender control to God?

Pray about it…

• When you find yourself worried or stressed this week, take a moment to pray. Ask God to forgive you for trying to handle things without Him and declare your desire to put Him first in every area of your life. Ask Him to help you focus on today and not worry about yesterday or tomorrow. Tell God that you trust Him to take care of your needs. Then, completely surrender your day and your struggles to Him.

Act on it…

• Reading Plan: Surrender… what a loaded word. Let’s continue exploring what the Bible says about this and how we can apply this to our lives each day. Join us this week in our church-wide reading plan “The Great Surrender” by clicking here.
• Memorize: (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• Pray: When you sense worry or anxiety in your life this week, let that be an alarm clock reminding you there are somethings you need to let go of.
  • Invite someone to join you for church online next week. Here are some tools to help.