God, Help Us Surrender the Throne to You!
A John Ortberg Sermon Summary
Surrender our will to God, at least because He is our heavenly Father. He loves us and He knows much more than us. Our self-centeredness and selfish desires lead to numerous problems and constant clashes.
Listen to Christ: Deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23. Do not focus on getting our way or satisfying our desires. Follow Christ instead. Note that this is not a one-time deal. Do this daily because we regularly take back control.
Surrendering to God does not make us robots. Abraham, Peter, and Paul were not robots. God created us as joyful, creative, and intelligent people. We surrender at least because His will is much better than ours.
Surrendering to God does not make us cowards. Instead, by surrendering to God and trusting His sovereignty, we do not depend on money, appearance, or other’s approval for our worth. Our peace does not depend on our external circumstances. Surrendering to God makes us stronger.
May be due to our ego, surrendering is challenging. Even Christ experienced difficulties. Though Christ considered doing the will of His Father as His food, right before crucifixion Christ struggled to follow the path the Father had suggested for Him. Yet finally Christ prayed, “[N]ot my will, but yours be done.” Then an angel came to strengthen Him. John 4:34. Luke 22:42-43.
As addicts will tell us, just trying harder, by itself, may not be able to alter deep habits. We probably have experienced the inner battle of not able to do what we should, and doing what we should not. Romans 7:15, 18.
Fortunately, God can change us if we commit to change. God gave Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, the power to become the poster boy for generosity. Luke 19:1-2. God changed the timid Simon to the courageous Peter. God changed the killer of Christians, Saul, into the first evangelist for gentiles, Paul. Just as Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13.
Accept we cannot surrender our will entirely based on our own strength. Change what we can and leave the rest to God. Through Him, we can do it.
“Our Father in heaven … your will be done.” Matthew 6:9-10.
Summarized from a John Ortberg’s sermon.
https://menlo.church/series/the-way#/modal/message/5506/mlo
Listen to Christ: Deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23. Do not focus on getting our way or satisfying our desires. Follow Christ instead. Note that this is not a one-time deal. Do this daily because we regularly take back control.
Surrendering to God does not make us robots. Abraham, Peter, and Paul were not robots. God created us as joyful, creative, and intelligent people. We surrender at least because His will is much better than ours.
Surrendering to God does not make us cowards. Instead, by surrendering to God and trusting His sovereignty, we do not depend on money, appearance, or other’s approval for our worth. Our peace does not depend on our external circumstances. Surrendering to God makes us stronger.
May be due to our ego, surrendering is challenging. Even Christ experienced difficulties. Though Christ considered doing the will of His Father as His food, right before crucifixion Christ struggled to follow the path the Father had suggested for Him. Yet finally Christ prayed, “[N]ot my will, but yours be done.” Then an angel came to strengthen Him. John 4:34. Luke 22:42-43.
As addicts will tell us, just trying harder, by itself, may not be able to alter deep habits. We probably have experienced the inner battle of not able to do what we should, and doing what we should not. Romans 7:15, 18.
Fortunately, God can change us if we commit to change. God gave Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, the power to become the poster boy for generosity. Luke 19:1-2. God changed the timid Simon to the courageous Peter. God changed the killer of Christians, Saul, into the first evangelist for gentiles, Paul. Just as Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13.
Accept we cannot surrender our will entirely based on our own strength. Change what we can and leave the rest to God. Through Him, we can do it.
“Our Father in heaven … your will be done.” Matthew 6:9-10.
Summarized from a John Ortberg’s sermon.
https://menlo.church/series/the-way#/modal/message/5506/mlo