Sermon Central
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Dependence On God
Contributed by Nate Herbst on Jan 10, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: I actually forgot my notes for this message (audio) and God literally taught me a ton about dependence - fitting it was on the very night I was speaking on dependence.
DEPENDENCE ON GOD
“Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.” - C.S. Lewis
Dependence starts with surrender.
Surrender is the act of giving up or yielding oneself or the possession of something to the power of another (Meriam-Webster dictionary).
You will not experience the abundant life God offers or accomplish the purpose He has planned for you without living a life of surrender AND DEPENDENCE!
“There is no pride so dangerous, so subtle and insidious, as the pride of holiness. It is not that a man ever says, or even thinks, “Stay away. I am to sacred for you.” The thought would be considered ludicrous. But unconsciously there can develop a private habit of the soul that feels complacency in its attainments and cannot help but see how far it is ahead of others. It isn’t always seen is self-assertion or self-praise but in the absence of self denial and modesty that reveals a lack of the mark of the soul that has seen the glory of God.” Andrew Murray
In grace, he chooses to use you when you love Him and focus on glorifying Him in humility.
“Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?” – Nicole Nordeman (in Legacy)
Your image does not matter.
James 4:4 – “…Friendship with the world is hatred toward God.”
Your will does not matter.
You can not demand your way.
Your point of view does not matter.
You gave up control of those to another.
What dependence looks like.
Jesus’ example
A life of dependence is close to God.
Jer.30:21 – “…Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?”
A life of dependence is obedient to God.
John 14:15 – “If you love me you will obey what I command.”
1 Jn.3:18 – “…Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”
A life of dependence is a life of meaning and impact.
John 15:4-5 – “Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Dependence means you won’t get your way, you’ll live for him.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves then to God…
Eph.5:21 – “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
“It is easy to think that we humble ourselves before God, but our humility toward others is the only sufficient proof that our humility before God is real.” Andrew Murray
