Lord, I Surrender

LORD, I SURRENDER

JAMES 4:7

1. INTRODUCTION: WHEN WATCHING POLICE SHOWS ON TELEVISION, YOU WILL OFTEN SEE THE POLICE TELL A SUSPECT TO THAT THEY ARE SURROUNDED, AND TO SURRENDER AND COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP; SIGNIFYING THAT THE SUSPECT IS GIVING THEMSELVES TO THE AUTHORITIES. THEY TEMPORARILY GIVE UP THEIR FREEDOM, AND PLACE THEMSELVES IN THE CUSTODY OF THE ARRESTING OFFICERS. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE LORD HAS UP SURROUNDED US AND WE OUGHT TO SURRENDER AND PUT OUR HANDS UP IN PRAISE JOY, CELEBRATION. IN OTHER WORDS WE OUGHT TO SAY LORD, I SURRENDER! NOT JUST IN WORDS BUT IN DEEDS.

2. THE TEXT: JAMES ENCOURAGES AND CHALLENGES HIS READERS TO SUBMIT UNTO GOD.

a) THE WORD SUBMIT COMES FROM A GREEK WORD THAT MEANS YIELD, GIVE UP, GIVE IN, OR TO SURRENDER.

b) THIS CHURCH OR THESE PEOPLE WERE DEALING WITH ISSUES THAT HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR WORSHIP OF THE LORD.

c) WHENEVER WE ALLOW ISSUES TO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR INDIVIDUAL OR COLLECTIVE WORSHIP, THEN OUR WORSHIP BECOMES WORTHLESS.

d) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE MY LIFE OF SERVICE TO THE LORD BE IN VAIN.

e) ALL OF US OUGHT TO SHOUT, LORD, I SURRENDER, NOT JUST FROM OUR LIPS BUT FROM OUR HEARTS!!

3. WHAT SURRENDERING TO GOD REQUIRES: IN ORDER TO SURRENDER TO GOD, YOU MUST FIRST BELONG TO GOD.

a) THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN BELONG TO GOD IS TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS SAVIOR!

b) SURRENDERING TO GOD REQUIRES THE WILLINGNESS TO DENY YOURSELF.

c) WE MUST BE WILLING TO SUBMIT OURSELVES TO HIS AUTHORITY.

d) SURRENDERING TO GOD MEANS THAT WE ARE WILLING TO LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM.

e) SURRENDERING TO GIVE MEANS THAT WE GIVE UP ALL RIGHTS TO OURSELVES, NOT SUBMITTING TO OUR OWN WILL BUT SUBMITTING TO HIS WILL.

f) IN OTHER WORDS IT MEANS THAT I’LL DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO. I’LL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO. WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT WITH A PRICE.

4. AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE REVEALS: THAT A PERSON IS YET CARNAL.

a) THE REASON THAT SOME ARE LIVING A MISERABLE LIFE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT SURRENDERED THEMSELVES TO GOD.

b) AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE WILL CAUSE YOU TO MISS THE BLESSINGS OF GOD.

c) AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE WILL PREVENT YOUR PRAYERS FROM BEING ANSWERED.

d) AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE WILL PREVENT YOU FROM BEING FORGIVEN.

e) AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE COULD CAUSE YOU TO MISS HEAVEN.

f) AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE WILL CAUSE YOU TO FOREFEIT PEACE AND JOY.

5. WHY NOT SURRENDER TO THE GOD WHO CAN GIVE…

a) JOY UNSPEAKABLE JOY.

b) PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

c) LIGHTEN HEAVY BURDENS.

d) DRY TEARS FROM OUR EYES.

e) WHO LOVES US BETTER THAN WE CAN LOVE OURSELVES.

f) TRANSFORM LIVES

6. WHEN WE SURRENDER TO GOD, YOU’LL FIND:

a) HE’LL BE A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

b) HE’LL GIVE COMFORT IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS.

c) DELIVERANCE IN THE MIDST OF DILEMMAS.

d) THAT YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

e) IT DOES NOT MEAN PERFECTION, BUT WE ARE BEING PERFECTED!

f) STRENGTH IN THE MIDST OF WEAKNESS.

g) MERCY IN THE MIDST OF MISERY.

7. CONCLUSION.

a) WE OUGHT SAY ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER.

b) I AM THINE O’ LORD, I HAVE HEARD THY VOICE AND IT TOLD THY LOVE TO ME, BUT I LONG TO RISE IN THE ARMS OF FAITH AND BE CLOSER DRAWN TO THEE!

c) HAVE THINE OWN WAY LORD, HAVE THINE OWN WAY, THOU ART THE POTTER AND I AM THE CLAY, MOLD ME AND MAKE ME AFTER THY WILL, WHILE I AM WAITING YIELDED AND STILL.

d) THIS JOY THAT I HAVE, THE WORLD DIDN’T GIVE IT TO ME…

e) I’M YOURS LORD.

f) WORK ON ME. CHANGE MY HEART, MOUTH, MIND, LIVING AND MY GIVING.